Bayou Catholic Magazine February 2019

INSIDE

Mardi Gras

Bayou

Catholic

New Clergy

Vestments FEBRUARY 2019 ~ VOL. 39 NO. 8 ~ COMPLIMENTARY

2019 Annual Bishop’s Appeal

2019 Annua

‘To whom is much given, much will be required.’ Luke 12:48.

Thank you for your loving support.

2019 Annual

My Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, The Lord has given me many blessings throughout my life, especially the gift of serving as the Bishop of the Diocese of HoumaThibodaux. I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to serve you and our diocese, and Luke of 12:48. for the prayers and generosity so many.

Ways Give: Bishop’s Appeal 2019toAnnual

‘To whom is much given, much will be required.’

By Mail: Complete the enclosed pledge form and return it with your generous gift to :

of Houma-Thibodaux Thank you for your loving Your giftsupport. to the 2019 AnnualDiocese Bishop’s Appeal will directly assist: Annual Bishops Appeal Office

or many years we have prayed for vocations, and the Lord has and continues o answer our prayers with many young men here in our diocese. As we mbark on our 2019 Annual Bishop’s Appeal, we are focusing this year’s ppeal on our retired priest, vocations and religious education across our iocese.

Post Office Box 505

My Dear Brothers and SistersSeminarian in Christ,

70395 EducationSchriever, LASupport of our Retired Priests Or contact us at 985-850-3122 or aponson@htdiocese.org Today, support this year’s Annual Bishop’s Schools Religious Education gs I am asking for your prayerful The Lord has for given meCatholic many blessings Appeal for these specific ministries. Through your support, we together, can

my life, especially the gift of serving ng to strengthen our call tothroughout work through our seminarians, asvocations the Bishop of the Diocese of religious Houmaducation in our parishes andThibodaux. in our Catholic to thank all maI amschools. deeplyI want grateful for the who share of their blessings opportunity with the people of God through the Annual to serve you and our diocese, and he Appeal.

Bishop’s for the prayers and generosity of so many.

Please make checks payable to Annual Bishop’s Appeal.

Ways to Give: Ways to Give: Ways to Give:

nd By diocese, Mail: Complete the pledge form and the returnenclosed it with Byenclosed Mail: Complete lease pray for me and our as I will pray for you and your families.

For many years we have your prayed for vocations, generous gift to and : the Lord has and continues o answeryours our prayers with many young men heregenerous in our diocese. we : your giftAsto aithfully in Christ, embark on our 2019 Annual Appeal, we are focusing this year’s DioceseBishop’s of Houma-Thibodaux appeal on our retired priest, and religious Annualvocations Bishops Appeal Office education across our ues Post Office Box 505 Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux diocese.

Most Reverend Shelton J. Fabre we Schriever, LA 70395 Annual Bishops Appeal Office Bishop of Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux Today, for this year’s Annual Bishop’s r’s I am asking for your prayerful supportPost Office 505can Appeal for these specificOr ministries.

Through your support, weBox together, contact us at 985-850-3122 or aponson@htdiocese.org ur to strengthen our call to vocations through work our seminarians, religious Schriever, LA 70395 Please payable to Annual Appeal. education in our parishes andmake in ourchecks Catholic schools.

I wantBishop’s to thank all who share of their blessings with the people of God through the Annual Online: Visit our secure giving site Oronline contact us atat 985-850-3122 Bishop’s Appeal. www.htdiocese.org/bishopsappeal p’s Please pray for me and our diocese, as I will pray for you and your families.

an

Online: Visit our secure online giving site at www.htdiocese.org/bishopsappeal

By Mail: Complete the enclosed pledge form and return it with your generous gift to : At your Parish: Place youritenvelope pledge form and return with in the In-Pew collection Sunday Diocese ofonHouma-Thibodaux Annual Bishops Appeal Office Your key505 to continued growth in Postpledge Office isBox ministries Schriever,that LA strive 70395to live the Lord’s Mission.

Or more contact us at 985-850-3122 or aponson@htdiocese.org For information on how your gift can make an impact please call 985-850-3122 Please make checks payable to Annual Bishop’s Appeal.

Online: Visit our secure online giving site at www.htdiocese.org/bishopsappeal

or aponson@htdiocese.org

At your Parish: Place your envelope in the In-Pew

collection on Sunday Please make checks payable to Annual Bishop’s Appeal.

At your Parish: Place your envelope in the In-Pew

2019 Annua

The collection will be held February 9 and 10, 2019 Thank you for your generosity.

Contents

Features 20 Ministry in Action

By Janet Marcel

31

Clergy to receive new vestments

By Janet Marcel

34

Advertisers Spotlight

By Janet Marcel

Columns 8 Comfort For My People

By Bishop Shelton J. Fabre

12

Pope Speaks

Pope Francis I

13

Questions of Faith

By Father Wilmer Todd

14

Readings Between the Lines

By Father Glenn LeCompte

24

Thoughts For Millennials

By Ryan Abboud

25

Reading With Raymond

By Raymond Saadi

50 Overtime

By Ed Daniels

In Every Issue 6 From the Editor 16 Scripture Readings 22 Heavenly Recipes 30 Youth In Action 40 Diocesan Events Guest Columns 28 Humanae Vitae

By Father Joseph Tregre

33

Update on Plans of Hope

By Kristin Niedbala

44

Catholic roots of Mardi Gras

On Our Cover

LAWRENCE CHATAGNIER/BAYOU CATHOLIC

Deacon Stephen Brunet and Father J.D. Matherne show off the new diocesan clergy vestments which are expected to be here in time for the transitional diaconate ordination in May. The new vestment that was chosen is the “Assisi,” which is manufactured by Slabbinck, a company in Belgium. Both vestments, the priests’ chasuble and the deacons’ dalmatic, are ecru with a woven orphrey banding. See story on page 31.

4 • Bayou Catholic • Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux • February 2019

By Father Michael Bergeron

Announcements 32 Catholic Foundation Update 36 Food for the Journey 49 Abbey Youth Fest March 23

Bayou Catholic Heavenly Recipes

How to reach us:

BY PHONE: (985) 850-3132

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BY MAIL: P.O. Box 505 Schriever, LA 70395

BY FAX: (985) 850-3232

BY E-MAIL: bayoucatholic@htdiocese.org

Denise Charpent

The Bayou Catholic is published monthly, for the people of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux by the H-T Publishing Co., P.O. Box 505, Schriever, LA 70395.

Subscription rate is $35 per year.

Denise Cooks a:

HOMEMADE SOUP

The Bayou Catholic is a member of the Catholic Press Association, the National Newspaper Association and an associate member of the Louisiana Press Association.

Chicken Nood

Lawrence Chatagnier

editor and general manager

INGREDIENTS:

Janet 1 Marcel whole chicken, cut into pieces staff writer/administrative assistant 4 ribs of celery, chopped 1 bunch Brooks Lirette green onions, chopped advertising accounts 2 cans executive cream of chicken soup 1 bag spiral noodles Lisa Schobel Hebert Creole seasoning to taste graphic designer 2 bell peppers, chopped 2 onions, Meridy Liner chopped accounts receivable/payable 1 handful assistant of parsley, chopped fi 2 cans cream of celery soup This month’s heavenly recipe, chicken noodle soup, comes 1 lb. baby carrots, chopped from Denise Charpentier, a native of Houma and resident of 1 tsp. Italian seasoning Bourg. The St. Ann parishioner got the recipe from her sisterin-law, which she tweaked for her own taste.

Optional: 1 lb. Brussels sprouts, She recalls watching her grandmother make bread when 1 Facebook lb. bag mixed vegetables, Like us on she was two years old. “I always wanted to peek under the 1orhead broccoli, chopped towel where the bread dough was resting and rising. My Find us on the web www.bayoucatholic.org grandmother would say don’t remove that towel it’s not DIRECTIONS: ready yet. I wanted an apron like the one she would use when In a large stock pot, place ch cooking. She made an apron for me out of flour sack material.

Where to find your Bayou Catholic peppers, celery and Creole season It was a tiny apron for a two year old.”

Bayou Catholic magazine canthe be found until 3/4 of way full. Boil u Denise loves to cook. She remembers cooking shrimp at all Catholic churches and Catholic schools deboned.

Take chicken out of pot spaghetti when she was nine years old. “My favorite thing throughout the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux. broth.

Debone chicken To pick up a copy, you may also visit the when coo to cook is spaghetti. In fact my favorite is ground beef and who cream advertiseof in our issue. Those chicken and cream of cel sausage spaghetti.” She cooks the chicken noodle soupmerchants for wishing to receive magazine mail can ofthe broth and by boil for 15 minutes. (A Christmas functions, family days, special church functions call Janet Marcel at (985) 850-3132 or write and mixed vegetables if desired) and for the St. Ann confirmation class. to Bayou Catholic, P.O. Box pot.

Stir often.

When carrots are t 505, Schriever, LA 70395.

Denise is an active parishioner at St. Ann. She sings in Subscription price $35 (and isbroccoli, if desired). Once oil the choir for the Saturday Mass, helps with the confirmation annually. For the online edition, off and discard. Add Italian seaso program, volunteers at the church office and with the religion go to www.bayoucatholic.com minutes. Ta program. She also helps decorate the church for special Add occasions.

February 2019 • Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux • Bayou Catholic • 5 and Denise and her husband James have five children, four are grown and the youngest who is 15 is still

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From The Editor

Combating the injustice of racism

February has arrived and with it comes many celebrations and observances. One in particular is Black History Month. Black History Month was first proposed by black educators and the Black United Students at Kent State University in February 1969. The first celebration of Black History Month took place at Kent State one year later, February 1970. Six years later, Black History Month was being celebrated all across the country in educational institutions, centers of Black culture and community centers when President Gerald Ford recognized Black History Month during the celebration of the United States Bicentennial. He urged all Americans to “seize the opportunity to honor the too-often neglected accomplishments of Black Americans in every area of endeavor throughout our history.”

Fast forward almost 50 years later, as a people and a nation what have we done to recognize, acknowledge or appreciate the accomplishments of African Americans and other ethnic minorities?

What are we doing to combat the injustice of racism in our communities? In this month’s Bayou Catholic, Father Glenn LeCompte writes about racism and Scripture.

He tackles the question of what do the Scriptures say about racism?

Father LeCompte sites numerous passages from the Bible which

provide foundational Christian teaching from which we can derive a moral theology of race relations.

Recently, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops promulgated a document on racism entitled Open Wide Our Hearts: The Enduring Call to Love, a pastoral letter against racism. It is not the first time the U.S. Bishops have spoken collectively on race issues in the United States, but it is the first time in almost 40 years.

Our own Bishop Shelton J. Fabre is the head of the U.S. Bishops’ Ad Hoc Committee Against Racism and Chair of the Sub-committee on African American Affairs within the Cultural Diversity Committee.

The pastoral letter states that “Racism arises when—either consciously or unconsciously—a person holds that his or her own race or ethnicity is superior, and therefore judges persons of other races or ethnicities as inferior and unworthy of equal regard. When this conviction or attitude leads individuals or groups to exclude, ridicule, mistreat, or unjustly discriminate against persons on the basis of their race or ethnicity, it is sinful. Racist acts are sinful because they violate justice.”

The document touches on many forms of racism. It covers the Native American Experience, The African American Experience and the Hispanic Experience. While explaining these experiences and the injustices directed to these people, it also offers ways for us to act justly as a nation and a society through the urgent call of love for one another and to walk humbly with God by acknowledging our own sinfulness, being open to encounter people of different ethnicities and develop new relationships with people who are on the peripheries of our own limited view.

6 • Bayou Catholic • Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux • February 2019

The document urges everyone to work for justice and educate themselves by listening to one another’s experiences and empathize with our brothers and sisters. The pastoral letter also calls for work in our churches. Priests, deacons, religious brothers and sisters, lay leaders, parish staff and all the faithful are called to carry forth the message of fraternal charity and human dignity.

In response to the call from the Catholic Bishops, a committee has been formed in the diocese to address the issue of racism. The Commission for Open Wide Our Hearts Against Racism will hold a listening session Friday, March 22, at 6 p.m., at the Pastoral Center in Schriever. There will be representatives from groups including Blacks, Hispanics, Native Americans, Cajuns and Asians to discuss through a listening session how they have been affected by racism in their lives and the lives of their families and friends within their cultures. More information on the listening session will be available in the March issue of Bayou Catholic.

Hopefully this will be a great starting point within our own diocese to come together as people of God from different cultures and ethnicities to better understand our diversities and live and worship in unity.

Remember, after reading Bayou Catholic, pass it on to a friend or relative who might not be attending Mass. It’s one of the great ways to do your part in spreading the Good News! BC

Lawrence

Lawrence Chatagnier Editor & General Manager

Special

American Indian Retreat A three-day American Indian Retreat entitled “Cast into the Deep,” was held at the Lumen Christi Retreat Center in Schriever recently with Sister Judy Gomila, M.S.C., as the presenter.

Twenty-three people attended the retreat which tied fishing into deepening one’s spirituality.

Photos by Ramona Portero

Cast into the Deep

February 2019 • Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux • Bayou Catholic • 7

Comment

Together we can live in the light Comfort For My People Bishop Shelton J. Fabre

Thomas Fuller stated, “The darkest hour is just before the dawn.”

Last month the Diocese of HoumaThibodaux published the list of priests credibly accused of the sexual abuse of a child. It was a dark and sad day in which we as a diocese had to look once again at the ugly truth of the reality of clerical sexual abuse. I write to you at this time not so much to teach as to give a moment of rest to see how we all are.

In my own heart, I continue to experience many emotions. Sometimes, I am angry; while, at other times I am no longer surprised or shocked where I once was. I suspect that my experience is not all that different from many reading this article. I also suspect that others are also feeling a range of emotions: Anger, resentment, abandonment or despair. Feeling complex ranges of

emotion is both deeply human and healthy. Life is at times messy, ugly and disappointing, more difficult still when life’s imperfections collide with us so abruptly.

However, among all the other emotions, I pray that we are also, or will be soon, experiencing hope. In this life and in this world, we have the most basic of human intuitions that tomorrow can be better than today. Over and over again, we face the opportunity to realize that we can learn from past mistakes to do better in the future. Even more important, we must always remember that our final hope is not in this life, and it is not even in our fellow humans. Our final hope is in Jesus Christ, the true light of the world, and his trustworthy promise that he is with us and that he has a place for each of us in heaven, where all of our sufferings are going to be wiped out and forgotten. On that day, there will be no more fear; there will be no more violence.

When all of this began to resurface again back in the summer of 2018, I invited and encouraged everyone to pray at 3 p.m. each day, the Hour of Divine Mercy. I renew this invitation and encouragement. We will pray for

victims and also for the renewal of the church. I hope that you will join me in prayer.

If you were abused by a priest as a child, you do not need to live in darkness. You may have a long journey ahead of you before you are able to fully address what has happened and to be able to speak about it freely. I invite you to reach out to Sister Carmelita Centanni, M.S.C., Ph.D., who serves as the victims’ assistance coordinator for the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux. She can be reached at (985)873-0026. Do not face the darkness alone; together we can live in the light.

“O God, in you we place our hope and our trust. Send the light of the world, Jesus Christ your Son, to illuminate the darkness of our despair and to shine as our hope. Give your peace, courage and strength to all victims of sexual abuse, assuring them of your presence and filling them with your light and peace. We place our hope and trust in you, Almighty God, and we know that you will not leave us to face these challenges alone. We ask this through Our Lord, Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, One God, forever and ever. Amen.” BC

PHOTO BY ROCH GERNON

8 • Bayou Catholic • Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux • February 2019

PHOTO BY TYLER NEIL

Comentario

Juntos podemos vivir en la luz Thomas Fuller declaró: “La hora más oscura es justo antes del amanecer”.

El mes pasado, la Diócesis de HoumaThibodaux publicó la lista de sacerdotes acusados de abuso sexual de un niño.

Fue un día oscuro y triste en el que nosotros, como diócesis, tuvimos que mirar una vez más la horrible verdad de la realidad del abuso sexual clerical.

En este momento te escribo, no solo para enseñar, sino para detenernos un momento y reflexionar cómo somos.

En mi corazón, continúo experimentando muchas emociones.

A veces, estoy enojado; mientras que, en otras ocasiones, ya no me sorprendo y entiendo mi conmoción.

Imagino que mi experiencia no es diferente de la de muchos que leen este artículo. Imagino que otros también están sintiendo diferentes emociones: ira, resentimiento, abandono o desesperación. Sentir esta mezcla de emociones es profundamente humano y saludable.

La vida es a veces desordenada, fea y decepcionante, aún más difícil cuando las imperfecciones de la vida chocan con nosotros de manera tan abrupta.

Sin embargo, entre todas las demás emociones, rezo para que también

experimentemos la esperanza. En esta vida y en este mundo, tenemos la visión que mañana puede ser mejor que hoy. Una y otra vez, nos enfrentamos a la oportunidad de darnos cuenta de que podemos aprender de errores pasados para mejorar en el futuro.

Aún más importante, siempre debemos recordar que nuestra esperanza final no está en esta vida, y ni siquiera en los acontecimientos humanos. Nuestra última esperanza está en Jesucristo, la verdadera luz del mundo y su promesa confiable de que él está con nosotros y que tiene un lugar para cada uno de nosotros en el cielo, donde todos nuestros sufrimientos serán eliminados y olvidados. En ese día, no habrá más miedo; No habrá más violencia.

Cuando todo esto comenzó a resurgir nuevamente en el verano de 2018, invité y animé a todos a orar cada día a las 3 p.m., la Hora de la Divina Misericordia. Promuevo y renuevo esta invitación. Oraremos por las víctimas y también por la renovación de la Iglesia.

Espero que se unan a mí en oración.

Si un sacerdote abusó de usted cuando era niño, no necesita vivir en la oscuridad. Es posible que tenga un largo viaje por delante antes de poder

abordar por completo lo que ha sucedido y poder hablar de ello libremente.

Le invito a que se ponga en contacto con la hermana Carmelita Centanni, M.S.C., Ph.D., que se desempeña como coordinadora de asistencia a las víctimas de la Diócesis de HoumaThibodaux. Puede ser contactada al (985) 873-0026. No te enfrentes solo a la oscuridad; Juntos podemos vivir en la luz.

“Oh Dios, en ti ponemos nuestra esperanza

y

nuestra

confianza.

Envía a tu hijo Jesucristo, la luz del mundo, para iluminar las tinieblas de nuestra desesperación y brillar como nuestra esperanza. Da tu paz, valor y fuerza a todas las víctimas de abuso sexual, asegurándoles tu presencia y llenándolos con tu luz y paz. Ponemos nuestra esperanza y confianza en ti, Dios Todopoderoso, y sabemos que no nos dejarás enfrentar estos desafíos solos. Te lo pedimos por Nuestro Señor Jesucristo, tu Hijo, que vive y reina contigo en la unidad del Espíritu Santo, por los siglos de los siglos. Amén.” BC

PHOTO BY TYLER NEIL

10 • Bayou Catholic • Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux • February 2019

Binh luan bang loi

Cùng nhau chúng ta có thể sống trong ánh sáng Ông Thomas Fuller đã tuyên bố, “Giờ đen tối nhất là giờ ngay trước lúc bình minh.” Tháng vừa qua, Giáo phận HoumaThibodaux đã đăng danh sách các Linh mục bị cáo tội về lạm dụng tình dục trẻ em. Đó là một ngày đen tối và buồn bã, trong đó chúng ta với tư cách là một giáo phận phải một lần nữa nhìn vào sự thật xấu xa của thực tế lạm dụng tình dục của giáo sĩ. Tôi viết cho Anh Chị Em vào lúc này không phải để dạy dỗ, cho bằng dành ra một thời điểm nghỉ ngơi để xem tất cả chúng ta như thế nào.

Tự thâm tâm, tôi tiếp tục trải nghiệm nhiều cảm xúc. Đôi khi, tôi tức giận; trong khi, tại thời điểm khác tôi không còn ngạc nhiên hoặc bị sốc nơi đã từng ở. Tôi nghi ngờ rằng kinh nghiệm của tôi không khác mấy so với nhiều người đọc bài viết này. Tôi cũng nghi ngờ rằng những người khác cũng đang cảm thấy một loạt cảm xúc: Tức giận, oán giận, bị bỏ rơi hoặc tuyệt vọng. Cảm giác phức tạp phạm vi của cảm xúc là cả hai sâu sắc của con người và khỏe mạnh. Cuộc sống nhiều lúc lộn xộn, xấu xa, thất vọng, và khó khăn hơn nữa khi cuộc sống không hoàn hảo va chạm với chúng ta quá đột ngột.

Tuy nhiên, trong số tất cả những cảm xúc khác, tôi cầu nguyện rằng chúng ta cũng vậy, hoặc sẽ sớm cảm nghiệm niềm hy vọng.

Trong cuộc sống này và trong thế giới này, chúng ta có những trực giác cơ bản nhất của con người rằng ngày mai có thể tốt hơn ngày hôm nay. Hết lần này đến lần khác, chúng ta đối diện với cơ hội nhận ra rằng chúng ta có thể học hỏi từ những sai lầm trong quá khứ để làm tốt hơn trong tương lai. Thậm chí quan trọng hơn, chúng ta phải luôn nhớ rằng hy vọng cuối cùng của chúng ta không có trong cuộc sống này, và nó thậm chí không phải ở đồng loại của chúng ta. Hy vọng cuối cùng của chúng ta là ở nơi Chúa Giêsu Kitô, ánh sáng đích thực của thế giới và lời hứa đáng tin cậy của Ngài rằng Ngài sẽ ở cùng chúng ta và Ngài có một nơi cho mỗi người chúng ta trên Thiên đàng, nơi mọi đau khổ của chúng ta sẽ bị xóa sạch và quên lãng. Vào ngày đó, sẽ không còn sợ hãi và bạo lực nữa.

Khi tất cả những điều này bắt đầu tái diễn trở lại vào mùa hè năm 2018, tôi đã mời gọi và khuyến khích mọi người cầu nguyện vào lúc 3 giờ chiều mỗi ngày, giờ của Lòng Chúa thương xót. Tôi xin lập lại lời mời gọi và khuyến khích này. Chúng ta sẽ cầu nguyện cho các nạn nhân và cũng cho sự đổi mới của Giáo hội. Tôi hy vọng rằng Anh Chị Em sẽ tham dự với tôi trong giờ cầu nguyện này.

Nếu bạn bị một Linh mục lạm dụng khi còn nhỏ, bạn không cần phải sống trong bóng tối.

Bạn có thể có một hành trình dài phía trước,

trước khi bạn có thể giải quyết đầy đủ những gì đã xảy ra và có thể nói về nó một cách tự do. Tôi mời bạn liên lạc với Sơ Carmelita Centanni, M.S.C., Ph.D., người phục vụ với tư cách là điều phối viên hỗ trợ các nạn nhân cho Giáo phận Houma-Thibodaux. Số phone của Sơ là (985) 873-0026. Đừng đối mặt với bóng tối một mình; chúng ta có thể cùng nhau sống trong ánh sáng.

“Lạy Chúa, trong Chúa, chúng con đặt niềm hy vọng và niềm tin của chúng con.

Xin dọi ánh sáng của thế giới, là Chúa Giêsu Kitô Con Chúa, để chiếu sáng bóng tối tuyệt vọng của chúng con và tỏa sáng như hy vọng của chúng con. Xin ban sự bình an, can đảm và sức mạnh của Chúa cho tất cả các nạn nhân của sự lạm dụng tình dục, trấn an họ về sự hiện diện của Chúa và lấp đầy họ bằng ánh sáng và bình an của Chúa. Chúng con đặt niềm hy vọng và tin tưởng vào Chúa, là Thiên Chúa toàn năng và chúng con biết rằng Chúa sẽ không để chúng con phải đối mặt với những thách thức này một mình. Chúng con cầu xin nhờ Chúa Giêsu Kitô, Con Chúa, Chúa chúng con, Người hằng sống và hiển trị cùng Chúa và Chúa Thánh Thần, đến muôn thuở muôn đời. Amen.”

Dịch thuật do Lm. Francis Bui, SDD và Thầy Paul Vu, SDD. Tu Đoàn Tông Đồ Giáo Sĩ Nhà Chúa BC

PHOTO BY TYLER NEIL

February 2019 • Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux • Bayou Catholic • 11

Comment

God is waiting to hear your prayers, pope says The Pope Speaks

Vatican City, (CNA/EWTN News) Persevere in prayer, remembering that God the Father is waiting to answer his children – even if the result is to change the person, not the circumstance, Pope Francis said at the general audience recently.

“How many times have we asked and not obtained – we all experience it – how many times have we knocked and found a closed door? Jesus urges us, in those moments, to insist and not to give up,” the pope said.

“Prayer,” he continued, “always transforms reality, always. If things do not change around us, at least we change, change our heart. Jesus promised the gift of the Holy Spirit to every man and to every woman who prays.”

In his continuing catechesis on the ‘Our Father,’ Pope Francis reflected on Jesus’ instructions about prayer in the Gospel of Luke, chapter 11, when he teaches his disciples “to pray and to insist in prayer.”

“He promised us: He is not like a father who gives a snake instead of a fish. There is nothing more certain: the desire for happiness that we all carry in our hearts will one day be fulfilled,” he stated.

Francis noted the very first words Jesus taught his disciples to use when praying: “Our Father.”

“We can stay all the time in prayer with that word alone: ‘Father.’ And to feel that we have a father: not a master or a stepfather. No: a father,” he added.

“The Christian addresses God by calling him above all ‘Father.’”

CNA PHOTO

Pope Francis gives his address during the Wednesday general audience in the Vatican’s Paul VI Hall recently.

Recalling the verse in Luke which says, “What father among you would hand his son a snake when he asks for a fish?” he invoked the experience of fathers and grandfathers, when their hungry children and grandchildren ask and cry for food: “You feed him what he asks for, for the good of him,” he said.

“With these words Jesus makes us understand that God always answers, that no prayer will remain unheard,” he said, adding: “Why? Because he is a Father, and he does not forget his children who suffer.”

Francis noted how such statements about prayer can cause people distress, because so many prayers seem to get no result and no answer from God. “We can be sure that God will answer,” he said. “The only uncertainty is due to the time, but we do not doubt that He will answer. Maybe we will

12 • Bayou Catholic • Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux • February 2019

have to insist for a lifetime, but He will answer.”

“Jesus says: ‘Will God not do justice to his elect, who cry day and night to him?’ Yes, he will do justice, he will listen to us,” the pope stated. “What a day of glory and resurrection will it be! Praying is now the victory over loneliness and despair.”

At the moment, creation is “heaving in the torpor of a story that we sometimes do not grasp,” he continued.

“But it’s moving, it’s on its way, and at the end of every street, what’s at the end of our road?”

“At the end of prayer, at the end of a time when we are praying, at the end of life: what is there? There is a Father waiting for everything and waiting for everyone with his arms wide open. We look at this Father,” he concluded. BC

Comment

Questions of Faith Father Wilmer Todd

Missing Mass on Sunday Is it a sin if we miss Sunday Mass when we have a valid reason like dangerous weather conditions or a sick child at home?

When I am hearing confessions and someone says, “I missed Mass on Sunday,” I always ask them, “why?”

The reason why a person misses Mass is the important information about whether an act is sinful or not.

We should never think of attending Mass as fulfilling an obligation. To attend Mass is a privilege, and any true Catholic should want to attend Mass. Our attitude should not be, “I have to do this,” but rather, “I have the privilege of gathering with members of Christ’s Body to worship and give thanks for the blessings God has bestowed upon us in Christ Jesus, our Lord.”

In Chapter 2 of Vatican II’s The Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy, it says, “The church, therefore, earnestly desires that Christ’s faithful, when present at this mystery of faith, (the Eucharist) should not be there as strangers or silent spectators.” (I have noticed that two types of people come to church on Sundays: spectators and worshipers. To what group do you belong?)

“On the contrary, through a good understanding of the rites and prayers, they should take part in the sacred action, conscious of what they are doing, with devotion and full collaboration.

They should be instructed by God’s Word, and be nourished at the table of the Lord’s Body. They should give thanks to God. Offering the immaculate victim, not only through the hands of the priest but also together with him, they should learn to offer themselves.”

The Liturgy of the Mass should change us every Sunday. If we are really listening to the Word of God and trying to apply it to our lives, if we are offering ourselves with Christ to the Father, if we are receiving Jesus into our souls, our lives should be constantly changing.

The Code of Canon Law (No. 1246) states, “Sunday is the day on which we celebrate the paschal mystery in light of the apostolic tradition and is to be observed as the foremost holy day of obligation in the universal church.”

Moreover, “On Sundays and other holy days of obligation, the faithful are bound to participate in the Mass” (No. 1247).

The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches, “Those who deliberately fail in this obligation commit grave sin” (No. 2181). Our Holy Father, Pope John Paul II, repeated this precept in his apostolic letter “Observing and Celebrating the Day of the Lord, No. 47, 1998. “The faithful have the obligation to attend Mass, unless they are seriously impeded.”

Notice the language of the documents: “those who deliberately fail,” and “they are seriously impeded.”

So let’s look at the above question: “dangerous weather conditions.” What

is dangerous weather? We would all agree that a hurricane is dangerous weather. If we need to get out of the way of an oncoming hurricane – Go! But what about a heavy rain storm? Most of the time a heavy rain storm does not last forever. Wait for an opening in the weather and attend Mass.

The other example was a sick child.

I think this depends on the age and condition of the child and the makeup of the family. We have to look at the seriousness of the child’s illness. If a youngster is very sick, then someone should stay with the child. However, that does not excuse other members of the family from attending Mass. If the child is a teenager, he or she can probably hold out until the family comes home from church.

The other example not mentioned in the question is traveling on the Lord’s Day. In the South, many small towns do not have a Catholic Church.

However, if you know the town or zip code you are going to, you can enter www.masstimes.org and the service will show you the nearest Catholic Churches and their Mass times. BC

Readers are encouraged to send their questions to our local Bayou Catholic columnists by email to bayoucatholic@htdiocese.org.

February 2019 • Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux • Bayou Catholic • 13

Reflections

Racism and Scripture Readings Between the Lines Father Glenn LeCompte

“As bishops of the Catholic Church in the United States, we want to address one particularly destructive and persistent form of evil. Despite many promising strides made in our country, racism still infects our nation.” This sentence defines the purpose for which the U.S. bishops promulgated Open Wide our Hearts, their recent document on racism. Though it has been exposed and addressed, racism persists in our society. The recent rise in “hate crimes” and civil rights violations is evidence that our society still needs conversion regarding racism.

What do the Scriptures say about racism? A computer concordance search of the Revised Standard Version of the Bible for the word, “racism,” yields no results. However, a number of passages in the Bible provide foundational Christian teaching from which we can derive a moral theology of race relations. In this article I will focus on the second reading and Gospel for the weekend of February 2-3, 2019.

1 Corinthians 12:31-13:13. In this passage we read Paul’s well-known reflection on the virtue of love. This passage follows 12:1-11 and 12:12-30.

The former passage is an instruction on the goodness of the variety and usefulness of individual spiritual gifts possessed by members of the Corinthian community. In the latter, Paul describes the functioning of a human body, whose individual parts perform specific functions, yet all work in concord with the others. Possibly community members were divided over perceptions of the usefulness of individual gifts and disputes about

their relative importance.

The body analogy is the first corrective Paul offers to address the disputes. The second is to be found in 12:31-13:13. Paul begins by saying that, without love, those who speak with eloquent human speech or offer prophetic oracles are simply noisemakers.

He then proceeds to define what love is, and is not. It is patient or forbearing, an attribute of God which refers to God’s merciful allowance of people time to repent rather than exacting quick judgment because of their sins (Romans 2:4). Prophetic revelations, great knowledge or faith, and even dying for faith (an extreme example of death by burning is given) without love, are meaningless. Love is also kind.

Next Paul informs the Corinthians what love is not. In other words, the negative qualities Paul mentions are adverse to the virtue of love. On the one hand, he mentions jealousy, perhaps envy that one possesses for someone else’s gift. On the other hand, boastfulness and “being inflated” are contrary to love. Some of the Corinthians may think a gift they possessed was superior to that of others, and therefore their possession of it made them more important. Neither can they relate to

14 • Bayou Catholic • Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux • February 2019

one another in an obnoxious way that is motivated by selfishness. Love is not “anger-provoking,” nor is it “reckoning evil,” in other words, either scheming against someone or holding that person in contempt. Love does not “rejoice at unrighteousness,” that is, holding others’ faults over their heads. Instead it rejoices in truth. Love is a spiritual quality that endures, in contrast to the temporal usefulness of the spiritual gifts the Corinthians have experienced.

This passage provides fertile ground for an application to racism, for racism is the exact opposite of that to which Paul is referring here. Concerning the quality of love as “patient” or “forbearing,” it is important that when the sin of racism is committed that we seek understanding and reconciliation, even as God is patient with us. “Racism arises when—either consciously or unconsciously—a person holds that his or her own race or ethnicity is superior, and therefore judges persons of other races or ethnicities as inferior and unworthy of equal regard” (Open Wide Our Hearts, p. 4). Paul’s admonition that love is not “inflated” certainly is related to the foregoing statement from the Pastoral Letter. Racism is focused on self-centeredness and selfish behavior in the sense that it has to do with seeking one’s own

a

Reflections

self-interest on the basis of race, a defensive posture. Love, however, does not seek itself. Racism is often accompanied by negative provocation and either “thinking or scheming evil” toward one of another race. At the end of the day, just as Paul suggests that love is rooted in the spiritually mature person, so also racism is a symptom of spiritual immaturity.

Luke 4:21-30. In the Gospel reading for Feb. 2-3, 2019, Jesus is in the same spatial setting as in Luke 4:14-20 (part of the previous Sunday’s Gospel), but, having proclaimed that Isaiah 61:1-3 is fulfilled in their hearing, he receives mixed reactions. While some are impressed with his eloquence, others hold him in contempt because he is a “local boy.” Jesus asserts that with such an attitude he will not be able to minister effectively among his native townspeople.

He then uses Old Testament images to show that Gentiles, whom the

Jews held in contempt, were often surprisingly the beneficiaries of God’s saving action because of their faith. He mentions Elijah’s prophetic promise, a promise that is fulfilled by the Lord, for a widow in Zarephath of Sidon, who demonstrates her faith in the God of Israel by heeding Elijah’s request to make him a bread cake (1 Kings 17:7-16). He also refers to Naaman, the Syrian military commander who, rather than the many lepers in Israel, is cured of leprosy through the agency of Elisha (2 Kings 5:1-27). The people react by attempting to kill Jesus, although he escapes.

Their hostility is motivated by the fact that Jesus declares that the good news of Isaiah 61:1-3, which he claims will be fulfilled through his ministry, is applicable to Gentiles as well, although Jesus has justified his claim through scriptural examples. Contempt and disassociation were two characteristics of the relationship between Jews

and Gentiles in Jesus’ day. Jesus’ townsfolk could not accept the idea that God intends to bestow favor upon the Gentiles as God does to them. As Peter says in Acts 10:34, “God shows no partiality.” When we accept this idea, there is no more room for racism in our lives. BC

Reflection Questions v What examples of racist speech and behavior do we observe in everyday life and how do these examples clash with Christian faith? v How can the espousal and practice of the virtues of love and openness to others contribute to the diminishment of racism in society? v What can we each do to promote an increase in racial unity in society?

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February 2019 • Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux • Bayou Catholic • 15

ScriptureReadings and a listing of Feast days and saints

Monday

4

Tuesday

Wednesday

Weekday Hebrews 11:32-40 Mark 5:1-20

5

Memorial of Saint Agatha, virgin and martyr Hebrews 12:1-4 Mark 5:21-43

6

11

12

Thursday

Friday

1 Fe uary 2

Saturday

Feast of the Presentation of the Lord Malachi 3:1-4 Hebrews 2:14-18 Luke 2:22-40

Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time Jeremiah 1:4-5, 17-19 1 Corinthians 12:31—13:13 Luke 4:21-30

9

10

Memorial of Saint Paul Miki and companions, martyrs Hebrews 12:4-7, 11-15 Mark 6:1-6

7

8

Weekday Weekday Hebrews 12:18-19, Hebrews 13:1-8 Mark 6:14-29 21-24 Mark 6:7-13

Weekday Hebrews 13:15-17, 20-21 Mark 6:30-34

13

14

15

16

Weekday Genesis 1:1-19 Mark 6:53-56

Weekday Genesis 1:20— 2:4a Mark 7:1-13

Weekday Genesis 2:4b-9, 15-17 Mark 7:14-23

Memorial of Saints Cyril, monk, and Methodius, bishop Genesis 2:18-25 Mark 7:24-30

Weekday Genesis 3:1-8 Mark 7:31-37

Weekday Genesis 3:9-24 Mark 8:1-10

18

19

20

21

22

23

Weekday Weekday Genesis 4:1-15, 25 Genesis 6:5-8, Mark 8:11-13 7:1-5, 10 Mark 8:14-21

Weekday Genesis 8:6-13, 20-22 Mark 8:22-26

Weekday Genesis 9:1-13 Mark 8:27-33

Feast of the Chair of Saint Peter the Apostle 1 Peter 5:1-4 Matthew 16:13-19

Memorial of Saint Polycarp, bishop and martyr Hebrews 11:1-7 Mark 9:2-13

2

27

28

1 March

2

25

Weekday Sirach 1:1-10 Mark 9:14-29

26

Weekday Sirach 2:1-11 Mark 9:30-37

Weekday Sirach 4:11-19 Mark 9:38-40

Weekday Sirach 5:1-8 Mark 9:41-50

Weekday Sirach 6:5-17 Mark 10:1-12

3

Sunday

Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time Isaiah 6:1-2a, 3-8 1 Corinthians 15:111 Luke 5:1-11

17

Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time Jeremiah 17:5-8 1 Corinthians 15:12, 16-20 Luke 6:17, 20-26

24

Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time 1 Samuel 26:2, 7-9, 12-13, 22-23 1 Corinthians 15:45-49 Luke 6:27-38

3

February

Holy Father’s prayer intentions

Universal

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February 2019 • Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux • Bayou Catholic • 17

Junior High Faith Experience

Junior High Faith Experience 2019 was held recently at E.D. White Catholic High School in Thibodaux. Sixth through eighth graders attended this year’s event. Kathleen Lee was the host and Nick Labrie was the speaker for the event. Music was provided by Ivy Cavalier and Abundant Praise.

Photos by Ramona Portero

18 • Bayou Catholic • Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux • February 2019

Junior High Faith Experience

February 2019 • Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux • Bayou Catholic • 19

Ministry in Action

Jennifer Sanamo

Our Lady of the Rosary Church uses unconventional approach in formation of youth

Our Lady of the Rosary Church parish in Larose recently embarked on a new way to approach the formation of youth in the parish.

Jennifer Sanamo, the parish’s DRE for the past 19 years oversees the entire youth formation ministry in the parish which currently includes religious education.

With all of the changes going on with the religious education program in the diocese right now, the parish decided to combine the traditional CCD class with a Vacation Bible School format. This program is offered to students in kindergarten through fifth grade. They have about 300 students this school year.

20 • Bayou Catholic • Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux • February 2019

Instead of a five day traditional Vacation Bible School they do a six week program. All of the children are mixed together for the first part of the “class” and for the last 15-20 minutes they are grouped together by grade level and taught age appropriate material about their faith. During the last week the students put on a show

a

Ministry in Action

“

The need for

some type of

plan is there. I

see a lot of good things coming in the church in the future all over the diocese the diocesan

“

as a result of

strategic plan.

Story by Janet Marcel Photo by Lawrence Chatagnier

for the parents where they perform, sing songs, and the parents ask the children about what they’ve learned.

They’ve used this format two times already and so far it’s been working out well, says Sanamo.

Volunteers Heather Savoie and Jamie Luke assist Sanamo with the program, and Savoie also helps to prepare the second graders for reconciliation and first Communion.

The sixth through eighth graders are participating in the Life Teen program Edge, which is a Catholic middle school youth ministry program that provides a safe, fun place for youth to get answers to their

questions about faith, and experience Jesus in a profound and personal way. They meet every Wednesday during the school year. There are five teachers who work with Edge.

As of now, Sanamo says the confirmation program is staying the same. They are still using the Decision Point program. For the ninth graders, they are using the diocese’s video series Why We Believe, and YOU (Theology of the Body) is being used for the 10th graders. There are six confirmation teachers. Nichole Chiasson assists Sanamo with Edge and the confirmation program.

All of these changes regarding

parish religious education of youth are in accordance with the diocesan strategic plan, notes Sanamo.

In addition to all of these programs, the parish has an active youth group which is divided into three different age groups.

“God Squad” is for students in kindergarten through fifth grade.

Savoie assists this group, which works on different projects for the liturgical seasons such as making wreaths for Christmas. They also provide snacks for the group and show movies.

“Cross Crew” is for students in sixth through eighth grade. Chiasson works with this group. They attended Junior High Faith Experience which was held last month.

“Blaze” is for students in ninth through 12th grade. Tish Hebert works with this group. Last year they attended the March for Life in Washington, D.C. There is a Bible study class that meets every Tuesday for junior high and high school age students.

Sometimes they watch movies together, go bowling and visit the local nursing homes. They also went Christmas caroling last year.

Sanamo, who is a member of the parish implementation team for strategic planning, says “The need for some type of plan is there. I see a lot of good things coming in the church in the future all over the diocese as a result of the diocesan strategic plan.”

Even though Sanamo works mostly with the youth of the parish, being on the strategic planning implementation team has helped her realize there is a need for programs to help adults, not only with their faith formation, but also in other areas where they may be struggling or just need assistance with such as parenting, dealing with divorce or grief, and for people who are new to the Catholic faith. There are currently three different adult Bible study groups meeting in the parish.

Sanamo has three adult children, Jennica Fern, Anita Bouvier and Tavie Borne. BC

February 2019 • Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux • Bayou Catholic • 21

Heavenly Recipes

Denise Charpentier

Denise Cooks a:

HOMEMADE SOUP Story and Photos by Lawrence Chatagnier

This month’s heavenly recipe, chicken noodle soup, comes from Denise Charpentier, a native of Houma and resident of Bourg. The St. Ann parishioner got the recipe from her sisterin-law, which she tweaked for her own taste.

She recalls watching her grandmother make bread when she was two years old. “I always wanted to peek under the towel where the bread dough was resting and rising. My grandmother would say don’t remove that towel it’s not ready yet. I wanted an apron like the one she would use when cooking. She made an apron for me out of flour sack material.

It was a tiny apron for a two year old.”

Denise loves to cook. She remembers cooking shrimp spaghetti when she was nine years old. “My favorite thing to cook is spaghetti. In fact my favorite is ground beef and sausage spaghetti.” She cooks the chicken noodle soup for Christmas functions, family days, special church functions and for the St. Ann confirmation class.

Denise is an active parishioner at St. Ann. She sings in the choir for the Saturday Mass, helps with the confirmation program, volunteers at the church office and with the religion program. She also helps decorate the church for special occasions.

Denise and her husband James have five children, four are grown and the youngest who is 15 is still at home. She and her daughter owned a bakery for eight years. “We baked wedding cakes, all occasion cakes, decorations and flowers for weddings, also.

We were very busy and had to stop doing it because there was just no time for the bakery. There was too much going on with raising families. We still do wedding cakes occasionally.”

When asked if she would rather cook or bake she says she absolutely prefers to cook. However she wouldn’t go without a cake or bread pudding for dessert. BC 22 • Bayou Catholic • Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux • February 2019

Chicken Noodle Soup INGREDIENTS: 1 whole chicken, cut into pieces 4 ribs of celery, chopped 1 bunch green onions, chopped 2 cans cream of chicken soup 1 bag spiral noodles Creole seasoning to taste 2 bell peppers, chopped 2 onions, chopped 1 handful of parsley, chopped fine 2 cans cream of celery soup 1 lb. baby carrots, chopped 1 tsp. Italian seasoning Optional: 1 lb. Brussels sprouts, 1 lb. bag mixed vegetables, 1 head broccoli, chopped

DIRECTIONS: In a large stock pot, place chicken, onions, bell peppers, celery and Creole seasoning. Fill with water until 3/4 of the way full. Boil until chicken can be deboned. Take chicken out of pot with tongs and save broth. Debone chicken when cooled. Add carrots and cream of chicken and cream of celery soups to the pot of broth and boil for 15 minutes. (Add Brussels sprouts and mixed vegetables if desired). Return chicken to pot. Stir often. When carrots are tender, add noodles (and broccoli, if desired). Once oil rises to the top, skim off and discard. Add Italian seasoning. Boil for 10-15 minutes. Taste for seasoning.

Add Creole seasoning and Italian seasoning if necessary. Add parsley and onion tops.

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Commentary

Happiness in the digital age Thoughts For Millennials Ryan Abboud

Brothers and sisters, we live in a day and age that’s fueled by likes, filters and status updates. Nearly every time we open our phones or computers, we are instantly reminded of how beautiful, successful and happy our peers are. This can ultimately lead to our own personal demise, making us feel far inferior to those around us.

This can fuel our lack of self-worth and can be a roadblock on our quest to sustainable happiness.

When we live our lives in such a comparative manner, it can lead to really big, life-shaking effects. It’s no secret that there has been a steep rise in depression in all Americans through the last 10 years, but there’s especially

been an influx of depression in young people since the turn of the decade.

Many scientists and researchers credit this to the fast-paced dopamineinduced social media culture that many young people (and now even adults) are exposed to in day-to-day life.

Scientifically, research shows that getting likes, notifications, and social media in general can trigger dopamine to our brains. Dopamine is the same thing that makes us feel good when we gamble, drink and smoke. Needless to say, it’s highly-addictive. That’s why we count the likes on our posts.

Therefore, if we base our happiness and self-worth on the amount of comments, likes or compliments we receive, that happiness that we are rewarded with is essentially just a temporary “high.”

This ultimately leaves us starved for more digital attention in the future. It’s a dangerous and vicious cycle that is crippling and robbing our young people of their true happiness.

We become accustomed to the thought that we need all the best things in life in order to be successful: We need the prettiest smile or the most attractive

captions so that we can get likes. And since likes are equal to success, then we’ll be happy. But it’s important to remember, no matter how old we are or how old we get, the happiest people in the world are not the ones that have the best things. Instead, they’re the ones who are satisfied with what they have and remember The One who blessed them with it.

For this reason, we must understand that our identity is fundamentally rooted in the Creator of heaven and earth; and that he is the source of any true joy and peace that we could ever experience. The moment we make the conscious decision to model our lives after God’s son, instead of the Instagram accounts with thousands of followers, is the moment that we can foster an environment of healthy happiness and sustainable delight in the Lord.

(Ryan Abboud is a 2015 graduate of Vandebilt Catholic High School in Houma and a senior at LSU in Baton Rouge.) BC

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24 • Bayou Catholic • Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux • February 2019

Book Reviews

Reading With Raymond Raymond Saadi

The Universal Christ

By Richard Rohr Convergent $26 Father Rohr, a Franciscan priest and founder of the Center for Action and Contemplation in Albuquerque, NM, is a globally recognized ecumenical teacher and prolific author of numerous books on religion and Christianity in particular.

Here he poses the question, “Most know who Jesus was, but who was Christ? Is the word simply Jesus’ last name? Or could it be that we have missed something fundamental because of our overwhelming emphasis on Jesus to the exclusion of the Christ? It’s a question Father Rohr ponders at length and answers here. BC

Dark Sacred Night

Gumbo Life Tales from the Roux Bayou

By Ken Wells W.W. Norton $26.95 Gumbo? Who wants another book about Gumbo? You will once you browse the pages of Ken Wells’ new book that uses this elixir of the Cajun Gods to describe the life and times of folks along the bayous of South Louisiana. Wells, who grew up chasing chickens for the pot in his Bayou Black backyard, already knew more about gumbo than most connoisseurs, yet went on an almost quixotic quest to find the best tasting gumbo of all. And whose was it? His Momma’s, of course.

Wells’ nostalgic and humorous stories of life on the bayous hits bookstores the 26th of this month. Get your copy and start cookin’. BC

By Michael Connelly Little, Brown $29 Harry Bosch is back and with a partner, Renee’ Ballard, both of whom are somewhat at odds with their superiors; Bosch on leave from a suburban force, and Ballard, relegated to late night duties for reporting harassment by a superior.

Ballard joins Bosch in his efforts to solve cases that have gone cold; in this instance, the gruesome murder of 15-yearold Daisy Clayton. Connelly, a master at penning police procedurals, uses Ballard’s access to police records to help Bosch make headway in finding the girl’s killer. The pair’s lives are both threatened as they close in on the perpetrators. BC

The New Iberia Blues

By James Lee Burke Simon & Schuster $27.99 When a woman’s body tied to a cross is found floating on the bay off Cypremort Point, it’s the first of a series of gruesome murders possibly connected to a movie being shot in New Iberia. Robicheaux’s friend, Clete Purcell, clues him in on the escape of a Texas inmate who might be involved in the murders, but Dave follows his own line of investigation despite being distracted by his beautiful new deputy, Bailey Ribbons, whose presence blurs the line between professionalism and romance for the aging detective. BC

Who Got the Baby in the King Cake?

By Johnette Downing River Road Press $17.99 Downing’s colorful drawings and recipe make the baking of your own king cake a breeze. Fun for all of the family, especially little cooks who can’t wait to hide the baby in the king cake. The author notes that the lucky person finding the baby is unofficially crowned king or queen for the day and must host the next king cake party. BC

February 2019 • Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux • Bayou Catholic • 25

Church Life

St. Luke St. Lucy

26 • Bayou Catholic • Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux • February 2019

Church Life

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. celebration Bishop Shelton J. Fabre was the main celebrant of the Masses at St. Lucy Church parish in Houma and St. Luke the Evangelist Church parish in Thibodaux recently for the preservation of peace and justice in remembrance of the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Msgr. Cletus (Frank) Egbi concelebrated. Deacons Martin Dickerson and Melvin Marts assisted.

Photos by Lawrence Chatagnier

February 2019 • Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux • Bayou Catholic • 27

Special

The prophetic fulfillment of Pope Paul VI’s Humanae Vitae Guest Columnist Father Joseph B. Tregre

On July 25, 1968, Pope Paul VI promulgated Humanae Vitae “Of Human Life,” an encyclical in which he prophesied four great societal changes that the widespread use of oral contraception, namely birth control, would cause society: Contraception would “open wide the way for marital infidelity”; cause a “general lowering of moral standards”; lessen the “reverence (of man) due to a woman”; and “give into the hands of public authorities the power to intervene in the most personal and intimate responsibility of husband and wife” (17). This past year celebrated the 50th Anniversary of Humanae Vitae, and in this article I will reflect on the four prophesies of Pope Paul VI and their fulfillment.

The intended audience to which Pope Paul VI addressed Humanae Vitae was married couples. In 1960, Enovid, the first birth control pill approved by the FDA, was made available by prescription only and was actually only available to married women.

In Griswold v. Connecticut (1965), Planned Parenthood of Connecticut challenged the Comstock Act of 1873 in Connecticut that made it illegal to use “any drug, medicinal article, or instrument for the purpose of preventing conception.” The Supreme Court ruled that the contraceptive law was unconstitutional according to the 14th Amendment and the privacy of marriage, even though no such mention of “privacy” is made in the Constitution.

By 1965, 6.5 million American women were on the pill.

The second prophesy of Pope Paul VI was that the advent of the pill would cause a “general lowering of moral standards.”

The first prophesy of Pope Paul VI was that the widespread use of birth control would cause a rise in marital infidelity. In 1968, as many are aware, the traditional family and marriage was still widely intact, but with the “sexual revolution” of the 60s and through the decades to follow, divorce became commonplace. While marital infidelity is not a statistic that can be measured, divorce is, and, within five years of the spread of the pill, the divorce rated spiked at nearly the same rate as the use of the pill. Without the birth control pill, marital infidelity is much less frequent, due to the fear of an unwanted pregnancy. Since the advent of the pill, the greatest deterrent to infidelity – fear of an unwanted pregnancy – is removed. With marital infidelity as the number one reason for divorce, this sexual license unhinged from the parental responsibility of conjugal intercourse paved the way for infidelity in marriages and the rise in divorce.

The second prophesy of Pope Paul VI was that the advent of the pill would

28 • Bayou Catholic • Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux • February 2019

cause a “general lowering of moral standards” (17). In 2012, Amazon announced that in the U.K. the E.L. James book series Fifty Shades of Grey replaced J.K. Rowling’s popular Harry Potter series as the bestselling volume in the history of the country. Television series’ such as The Walking Dead that glamorizes death and Two and A Half Men that promotes homosexuality are among the highest rated shows in America. How can this tidal change in American culture be changed? It all begins with marriage and family, the building blocks of our society. The rupture of the unitive and procreative ends of marriage by oral contraceptives not only separated the true union of spouses in authentic self-giving love, but also contracepted our culture.

The moral standards of America are certainly lower than they were 50 years ago, much lower.

The third prophesy was that wideaccess to birth control would result in a lessening of the reverence men give to women and a rise in the use of women as objects for

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Special

self-gratification rather than as partners deserving of true and authentic love. Aside from a global population boom, one of the main catalysts for the FDA to approve the pill was from the demand of a new feminism. The demand came from a rising call for women’s equality and equal opportunities in the workplace and at home. The pill was thought to be a liberator for women and a newfound source of independence.

However, without intending it, the pill brought new shackles. Freed from the responsibility of parenthood, men have objectivized women (e.g. pornography), and women have become more susceptible to the dangers of sexual harassment in the workplace.

The fourth prophesy is that use of oral contraception would “give into the hands of public authorities the power to intervene in the most personal and intimate responsibility of husband and wife.” As previously mentioned,

one of the main driving forces for the FDA to approve the commercial usage of oral contraception was from pressure by President Lyndon Johnson and his administration. Many nations throughout the West and the Oriental East similarly sought to spread sterilization and contraception to control the burgeoning population of 7 billion world-wide. Even to this day, our own government often will withhold humanitarian aid to African nations and other poor peoples if they will not also accept oral contraceptives and condoms as part of the aid package. To this day, the birth control pill, in its current form, is still listed as a Class 1 carcinogen under the World Health Organization (see International Agency for Research on Cancer).

Fifty years ago, Pope Paul VI prophesied that the mass use of oral contraception would lead to significant shifts in the moral standards of society.

While these shifts could arguably be

mediCare CerTified Preferred Provider neTwork PhysiCian referraL noT required

contributed to other causes, the fact remains that the building blocks of society are marriage and family. The Second Vatican Council reminds us, “Marriage and conjugal love are by their nature ordained toward the procreation and education of children.

Children are really the supreme gift of marriage and contribute to the highest degree to their parent’s welfare” (Gaudium et Spes, 50). Marital love is not a gift taken for oneself but is a gift meant to be shared with another and ultimately for another – a child.

When the self-donating gift of conjugal love is a selfless and life-giving act, it brings new life to society. But, when it becomes a selfish act for one’s own self-pleasure, not only is the individual hurt but all of society is hurt.

(Father Joseph B. Tregre is the medical ethicist for the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux and chaplain of Thibodaux Regional Medical Center.)

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www.ptcenter-la.com February 2019 • Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux • Bayou Catholic • 29

Youth

in action Nathan Rachal School: E.D. White Catholic High School Grade: 12th Parish: St. Genevieve, Thibodaux Family: Windy, mother; Chris, father; Eleanor, younger sister Favorite Hobby: Being with friends, reading Favorite Movie: Casablanca Favorite TV Show: Supernatural Favorite Genre of Music: Alternative rock

What do you think is the biggest source of pressure for teenagers today?

Being a teenager is one of the hardest things in today’s world and I think it is only getting harder. Growing up with a world of smart phones and internet, among other things, makes us vulnerable to much more than our parents were. Not only are we juggling school and extracurricular activities, but also our relationships with others and trying to find out who we are.

We are also in that grey area of still being somewhat dependent but also independent at the same time. There are so many things that teenagers have to deal with, but after reading Matthew Kelly’s book Resisting Happiness, I’m convinced that resistance is the biggest pressure we have to deal with on a daily basis.

This battle against resistance is everywhere and it is always happening.

It starts when we wake up and either get up or hit the snooze button, and continues throughout the day until it’s 11 p.m. and we decide whether to watch the next episode or go to sleep.

I’m not saying that only teenagers wrestle with resistance, but I feel like we face it a lot more than most other age groups. Being in a high school environment allows resistance to attack us hard. This resistance that we face is basically a form of temptation that makes us not want to do something we know is good for us. Resistance stands between us and happiness.

We have so many temptations that we have to face every day as teens.

They may be procrastination, cheating, partying and lustfulness. Resistance, however, likes to attack at our weak points, and is more likely to get us with

30 • Bayou Catholic • Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux • February 2019

smaller things before the bigger ones.

It wants us to say yes to a situation that leads to something worse. It could be putting off morning prayer because you’re rushed, which causes you to not care about prayer as much throughout the day. Because you put off prayer that day, you aren’t as happy and definitely not yourself.

We need to remember that Jesus always wants us to conquer resistance.

He never leaves us alone even when it may feel like we are lost, and I believe teenagers tend to feel like this. Jesus is always one step behind us waiting for us to turn to him. Letting Jesus be the central point in our lives will allow us to overcome resistance almost effortlessly, allowing us to be the person he wants us to be. BC

Cover Story

P riests

and deacons

to receive new vestments for diocesan celebrations Story by Janet Marcel Priests and deacons of the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux are looking forward to receiving new vestments to wear for diocesan events such as priesthood and diaconate ordinations, the Chrism Mass, and other special liturgical celebrations.

They have been wearing the current diocesan vestments for the past 16 years, says Father Glenn LeCompte, diocesan director of the Office of Worship.

The current clergy vestments that are used for special diocesan events were purchased (in 2002) on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the diocese for each individual priest and travels with them as they move from parish to parish.

In 2012, the company that the diocese was purchasing these vestments from was bought out by another company and that company began charging more for the vestments.

“At that time, Bishop (Emeritus) Sam G. Jacobs asked us to start making the vestments ourselves,” says Father LeCompte. “A local seamstress, Carol Lagarde, began making the vestments needed for new priests and deacons; and diocesan employee Meridy Liner added the Jerusalem cross. That was supposed to be a temporary situation, but it lasted for six years.”

Early in 2018, Father LeCompte learned that the material that was being used to make the vestments was no longer available, so he went to Bishop Shelton J. Fabre to tell him about the situation.

“We had been talking about getting new vestments for a couple of years, but now it was urgent because we could no longer make these same vestments. Bishop Fabre instructed me to get samples of vestments that were affordable and would look nice. After an extensive search, we chose five vestments and put them up for a vote among the priests,” explains Father LeCompte.

The new vestment that was chosen is the “Assisi,” which is manufactured by Slabbinck, a company in Belgium. They were purchased through The Church Supply House – J. Prestes & Co., Inc., in Metairie.

Both vestments, the priests’ chasuble and the deacons’ dalmatic, are ecru with a woven orphrey banding. On the priests’ chasuble, the banding is down the front and back of the vestment; and on the deacons’ dalmatic, the banding is around the bottom of the sleeve.

One of the things that was taken into consideration when deciding to purchase new vestments was in the past the diocese did not have a large number of extra vestments for liturgical celebrations where a number of priests and deacons are coming from outside of the diocese. “We always get requests from visiting clergy for vestments like ours because they think we have extras, but we only have a few,” says Father LeCompte.

The church parishes pay for the vestments of those priests or deacons assigned to the parish and for priests in residence. The chasuble costs approximately $175 and the dalmatic, $150. The diocese pays for the vestments for retired priests and for the 30 extra chasubles and 12 extra dalmatics that were purchased to divide between the two cathedrals.

If anyone is interested in helping to defray the diocese’s cost for the vestments, they should go to https://htdiocese.org/ newvestments and click on the DONATE TODAY button to make a donation.

Father LeCompte says the new vestments are scheduled to be delivered

by May 1st of this year and that the transitional diaconate ordination will likely be the first time all of the clergy will wear them as a group. BC February 2019 • Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux • Bayou Catholic • 31

Announcement

Catholic Foundation of South Louisiana launches Mother Teresa Women’s Giving Circle Catholic Foundation Update Amy Ponson

Mother Teresa once said “I alone cannot change the world, but I can cast a stone across the waters to create many ripples.” It is this quote that the Catholic Foundation of South Louisiana’s new Women’s Giving Circle stems from. The CFSL is pleased to announce its inaugural Mother Teresa Women’s Giving Circle.

The Catholic Women’s Giving Circle is a new initiative dedicated to bringing together a group of women to learn about the needs in our diocese and community, to raise awareness and funds for philanthropic giving.

The Catholic Women’s Giving Society brings together Catholic women from diverse backgrounds with one common goal: To bring about change through the power of grants that transforms lives and builds the Body of Christ. Designed as a giving circle, this group will leverage a pooled fund to have greater impact on the organizations they select. There are many options for joining the Mother Teresa Women’s Giving Circle at a variety of different giving levels. All giving levels can be viewed online or by reaching out to one of our steering committee members.

To kick off the Mother Teresa Women’s Giving Circle, the CFSL will host a Mass which will be celebrated

by Bishop Shelton J. Fabre Saturday, March 16 at 9 a.m. at St. Thomas Aquinas Church in Thibodaux.

Brunch will follow. As part of the kick off brunch, we invite any women who are interested to gather to learn about organizations and their needs, and decide together which projects to fund. There will also be opportunities to share ideas, serve with one another, and of course, plenty of time to socialize.

“The Mother Teresa Women’s Giving Circle is an initiative that we are excited to launch for our diocese.

Having the input from women across our diocese who come together to

learn about the needs of the diocese and give back to our church and local community will bring great energy to the diocese. I am eager to watch this group flourish and look forward to celebrating their efforts at our upcoming Mass,” says Bishop Fabre.

For more information about the Mother Teresa Women’s Giving Circle, visit https://www.catholicfoundationsl. org. If interested in joining, please contact Amy Ponson at (985)850-3116 or aponson@htdiocese.org. BC

LAWRENCE CHATAGNIER/BAYOU CATHOLIC

Women’s Giving Circle steering committee meets The Mother Teresa Women’s Giving Circle steering committee met in January to plan and finalize its spring launch of the new Giving Circle initiative. Pictured from left are Bonnie Brady Babin, Wanda Birdsall, Rene Danos David, Charlotte Bollinger, CFSL board chair; Emelie Cheramie, Mary Duplantis, Susan David, Brenda Riviere, Kelly Thibodaux and Amy Ponson, executive director. Committee members not pictured are Andree Casey, Ginny Corte, Charlotte Randolph.

32 • Bayou Catholic • Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux • February 2019

Announcement

Update on Plans of Hope ~ Renewing Parishes Guest Columnist Kristin Niedbala

Parish- based strategic planning Since September 2018, all pastors have been meeting with their parish implementation team in order to go through a planning process designed to assist them in writing a tailored strategic plan for their respective parish. This planning process has included two meetings, which were

facilitated by Catholic Leadership Institute. Additionally, the teams have been meeting on their own for follow up and further processing. These planning meetings have taken into account all of the input offered by parishioners through parish-based listening sessions this past year as well as the Disciple Maker Index which pastors encouraged parishioners to complete in 2017.

Additional assistance was offered to parishes in one final meeting, facilitated by the Diocese of HoumaThibodaux to conclude the parishbased planning process. This meeting was intended to assist parishes in finalizing their individual parish plans as well as identifying resources and actions needed to move forward with implementation of that plan.

Again, each parish has focused on the unified diocesan vision for renewal of parishes including more intentionally forming missionary disciples of Jesus Christ. The planning process allowed each parish to discern and identify priorities for the parish such as: Sunday, Adult Formation, Youth Formation and Outreach: Parish Social Ministry and Major Life Moments.

In the coming months, parish implementation teams will be organizing themselves in order to begin to communicate the parish-based plan to parishioners and to take steps forward with implementation.

(Kristin Niedbala is the associate director of the diocesan Office of Parish Support.) BC

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Advertisers Spotlight

Brennan, John, Robert and Ryan Page

Charles A. Page & Sons Insurance Agency serving Houma and gulf coast for 73 years Story by Janet Marcel Photo by Lawrence Chatagnier Charles A. Page & Sons Insurance Agency has been serving Houma and the surrounding gulf coast for the past 73 years. The agency has been in its current location at the corner of Martin Luther King Blvd. (Bayou Gardens Blvd.) and West Main Street since 2001.

Brothers Robert and John Page, who are the current owners, explain that their great grandfather actually started the business in anticipation of their father, Charles A. Page Sr., coming back from World War II. Their father

34 • Bayou Catholic • Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux • February 2019

served in the Navy and the Marine Corps Reserves.

“My great grandfather ran the business for about six or eight months and then turned it over to my father when he returned home after the war,” says Robert.

The brothers purchased the business from their father in 1989, but they say their father consulted until he died in 2006. Robert handles all of the business and commercial policies, and John handles all of the personal policies.

Robert’s son Ryan has been working at the agency for

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Advertisers Spotlight

three years and John’s son Brennan just started in January, so they are hopeful that the business will remain in the family for generations to come.

When operating a successful business, Robert says it’s important to surround yourself with family, friends and constituents that have a similar mindset and who share the same values as you do.

“Dad always taught us if you teach people (about insurance) and they understand, it makes your job easier,” says John. He hesitantly uses the analogy of “spreading the Word (of God). “It’s about educating people, educating the public and helping them to understand it so that they have a better feeling for it. No one wants to purchase insurance or suffer a loss, but the more educated they are and the more they understand why they need it, the more likely they are to protect themselves by purchasing it.”

The brothers say their parents instilled in them the value of the Golden Rule, which is how they always try to treat their clients and the people who work for them.

“It is something that just comes naturally being a believer in God and living his Word every day,” says John.

Robert adds that treating others with respect is something they value themselves so they also expect their employees to treat others the way they want to be treated.

They’ve been fortunate, he says, that there has not been a lot of turnover in their employee base.

John says their father was never into modernizing; he believed in the pencil/paper/phonebook way of doing business, but as soon as he felt comfortable enough to turn over the business to them, the brothers joined the computer world.

“Especially now with social media, people want instantaneous response. The insurance carriers use that technology and have so much information available to them so quickly, we as agents have to keep up to stay in the loop,” says John.

Charles A. Page & Sons Insurance Agency offers commercial and personal insurance including property/fire, general liability, flood/excess flood, business auto, umbrella liability, inland marine, condominium associations, workers’ compensation, group health, special event policies, directors and officers, aviation/maritime liability, professional liability, pollution liability, liquor liability, crime liability, cyber liability, hunting/fishing charter guide liability, farm/ ranch, bonding, automobile, homeowners/dwelling fire/high value, flood, life/health, motorcycle/recreational vehicle, boat/watercraft, camp/seasonal home, landlord/renter, jewelry/collections. BC

February 2019 • Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux • Bayou Catholic • 35

Announcement

Roch Gernon to speak at Food for the Journey March 12 The Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux sponsors a monthly lunchtime speaker series on the first Tuesday of the month at the Ellendale Country Club Restaurant located at 3319 Highway 311 in Houma.

The speaker for March 12 is Kenner native Roch Gernon.

Gernon earned a degree in theology from Our Lady of Holy Cross College in New Orleans. He has worked for the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux in various capacities for over 10 years and currently serves as resource and communications specialist for the diocesan Office of Parish Support.

He is a parishioner of the Cathedral of St. Francis de Sales in Houma.

Roch Gernon

Gernon will be speaking about the gift and importance of relating to God in prayer.

Those who plan to attend the March 12 event should RSVP with their name, phone number and church parish by Thursday, March 7. To RSVP, email FoodForTheJourney@htdiocese.org or call (985) 850-3178.

Doors open at 10:45 a.m. Lunch begins at 11:30 a.m. The program begins at Noon with the speaker’s presentation from 12:1012:45 p.m. Cost is $15 and includes meal, drink and tip. Only cash or checks will be accepted.

All are invited to come “eat and be fed.”

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36 • Bayou Catholic • Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux • February 2019

Seminarian Education Burses What is a seminarian burse/endowment fund?

A seminarian burse/endowment fund is an invested sum of money where the interest is used in perpetuity to help fund the education of men to the priesthood in the Diocese of HoumaThibodaux.

How does someone establish a seminarian burse/endowment fund?

Very simply, a burse/endowment fund may be established and

named for anyone you choose, be it family, friend, bishop, priest, deacon, religious, etc.

Who do I contact to contribute to or establish a fund?

To contribute to or establish a burse/endowment fund, send funds to the Pastoral Center, Attn: Catholic Foundation, P.O. Box 505, Schriever, LA 70395 or contact the Catholic Foundation office at 985-850-3116 or aponson@htdiocese.org for more information.

Completed Burses and CFSL Named Endowment Funds

December 2018 Burse Contributions

Note: Numbers stipulate the amount of completed burses.*

Anonymous Mr. & Mrs. C. Thomas Bienvenu Harry Booker Bishop Warren L. Boudreaux (3)* Mr. Eledier Broussard Rev. Adrian J. Caillouet Rev. James Louis Caillouet Bishop L. Abel Caillouet Judge & Mrs. L.P. Caillouet Msgr. Lucien J. Caillouet Abdon J. & Ada B. Callais Harold & Gloria Callais Family Paul A. Callais Peter W. Callais Vincent & Fannie Cannata Minor Sr. & Lou Ella Cheramie Maude & Edith Daspit Mr. & Mrs. Caliste Duplantis family (3)* Clay Sr. & Evelida Duplantis C. Remie Duplantis Marie Elise Duplantis

Warren J. Harang Jr. Msgr. Raphael C. Labit Msgr. Francis J. Legendre Rev. Charles Menard Dr. & Mrs. M.V. Marmande & Family Donald Peltier Sr. (3)* Harvey Peltier (30)* Richard Peltier The Peltier Foundation (5) Orleans & Louella Pitre Msgr. Joseph Wester Robert R. Wright Jr. Rev. Kermit Trahan St. Bernadette Men’s Club Diocesan Knights of Columbus Leighton Delahaye Mrs. Shirley Conrad Bishop Shelton J. Fabre Elizabeth Hebert Callais Family Fund Rev. Joseph Tu Tran

Society of St. Joseph Endowment Fund - $119,136.90 James J Buquet Jr Julius & Marie Pauline St. Amant Elie & Dot Klingman Bishop Sam Jacobs Endowment-$32,840.43 Giardina Family Foundation Sem. Endowment-$4,337.62 James J. Buquet, Jr. Family Sem. Endowment-$27,979.95 Diocesan Seminarian Endowment-$3,502,699.11 Mary and Al Danos Foundation Sem. Endowment-$38,621.30 Msgr. Amedee Sem. Endowment-$314,838.43 The Peltier Foundation-$14,482.97 Leo & Ethel Hebert Jane and John Dean Sidney J. & Lydie C. Duplantis

Warren J. Harang Jr. No. 2 ...................$100.00 Rev. Guy Zeringue ......................................$100.00 Bernice Harang .............................................$100.00 Edna W. DiSalvo...............................................$50.00 Claude & Lucy Mahler Family ...........$200.00 Paul and Laura Duet ..................................$50.00

Open Burses with Balance as of December 31, 2018 Donald Peltier Sr. No. 4 ................................$13,000.00 Joseph Strada Memorial ..............................$12,642.63 Msgr. Raphael C. Labit No. 2 ....................$11,440.00 Claude & Lucy Mahler Family ....................$10,900.00 Harvey Peltier No. 31 ....................................$10,486.91 Mr. & Mrs. George C. Fakier .......................$10,400.00 Joseph Waitz Sr. ..............................................$10,100.00 Clay Sr. & Evelida Duplantis No. 2 ...........$10,000.00 C. Remie Duplantis No. 2 .............................$10,000.00 Marie Elise Duplantis No. 2 ........................$10,000.00 Maude & Edith Daspit No. 2 ......................$10,000.00 Msgr. George A. Landry ...............................$10,000.00 Society of St. Joseph .......................................$7,500.00 Msgr. William Koninkx .....................................$7,400.00 Rev. Victor Toth ..................................................$7,000.00 Catholic Daughters ............................................$6,800.00 Brides of the Most Blessed Trinity ..............$6,598.00 Rev. Gerard Hayes .............................................$6,286.00 Rev. Peter Nies ....................................................$6,000.00 Rev. Guy Zeringue .............................................$6,000.00 Msgr. Francis Amedee .....................................$5,350.00 Mr. & Mrs. Love W. Pellegrin ........................$5,000.00 Anonymous No. 2 ..............................................$5,000.00 Mr. & Mrs. Caliste Duplantis Family No. 4 ........$5,000.00 Rev. William M. Fleming .................................$5,000.00 Mrs. Ayres A. Champagne ..............................$5,000.00 Rev. Kasimir Chmielewski ...............................$4,839.00 Joseph “Jay” Fertitta ..........................................$4,450.00 Rev. Henry Naquin ............................................$4,311.00

Harry Booker No. 2 ...........................................$4,138.00 Msgr. James Songy ...........................................$4,075.00 Anawin Community ..........................................$3,700.00 Kelly Curole Frazier ............................................$3,610.96 Mr. & Mrs. John Marmande ..........................$3,500.00 J. R. Occhipinti .....................................................$3,400.00 Mr. & Mrs. Galip Jacobs ..................................$3,060.00 St. Jude ...................................................................$3,000.00 Diocesan Knights of Columbus No. 2 .......$2,894.62 Warren J. Harang Jr. No. 2 .............................$2,700.00 Rev. Peter H. Brewerton ..................................$2,600.00 Preston & Gladys Webre ................................$2,350.00 Willie & Emelda St. Pierre ..............................$2,000.00 Rev. John Gallen .................................................$1,950.00 Rev. H.C. Paul Daigle ........................................$1,900.00 Deacon Connely Duplantis ............................$1,700.00 Alfrances P. Martin ............................................$1,650.00 Msgr. Francis J. Legendre No. 2 ...................$1,645.00 Rev. Robert J. Sevigny ......................................$1,600.00 Rev. Hubert C. Broussard ................................$1,550.00 Judge Louis & Shirley R. Watkins ...............$1,550.00 Msgr. Emile J. Fossier .......................................$1,545.00 Ronnie Haydel .....................................................$1,535.00 Dr. William Barletta Sr. .....................................$1,525.00 Msgr. Stanislaus Manikowski ........................$1,525.00 Deacon Robert Dusse’ .....................................$1,450.00 Jacob Marcello ....................................................$1,400.00 Rev. Anthony Rousso .......................................$1,250.00 Msgr. John L. Newfield ....................................$1,200.00

Rev. Joseph Tu Tran No. 2 ..............................$1,094.00 Msgr. John G. Keller ..........................................$1,050.00 Rev. Clemens Schneider ..................................$1,000.00 Bishop Warren L. Boudreaux No. 4 ............$1,000.00 Edna W. DiSalvo .................................................$1,000.00 Bernice Harang ...................................................... $900.00 Deacon Willie Orgeron ....................................... $800.00 Ruby Pierce .............................................................. $800.00 Deacon Roland Dufrene .................................... $750.00 Juliette & Eugene Wallace ................................ $700.00 Deacon Edward J. Blanchard ............................ $700.00 Deacon Raymond LeBouef ............................... $550.00 Paul & Laura Duet ............................................... $550.00 Mr. & Mrs. Anthony Cannata ........................... $500.00 Robert Walsh .......................................................... $500.00 Dean Joseph Chiasson ........................................ $500.00 Anne Veron Aguirre ............................................. $380.00 Deacon Harold Kurtz ........................................... $300.00 Richard Peltier No. 2 ............................................ $300.00 Claude Bergeron ................................................... $250.00 Rev. Michael Finnegan ........................................ $200.00 Mr. & Mrs. Arthur Naquin ................................. $150.00 Deacon Pedro Pujals ........................................... $100.00 Rev. Warren Chassaniol ...................................... $100.00 Deacon Eldon Frazier .............................................$50.00 Deacon Nick Messina .............................................$50.00 Grant J. Louviere .......................................................$50.00

Overall Seminarian Burses Total: $1,730,468.02 ~ CFSL Seminarian Endowments Total: $3,533,211.03 February 2019 • Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux • Bayou Catholic • 37

Announcement

2019 Catholic Charismatic Renewal Conference March 29-31 in Metairie “The Spirit of Truth: Signs, Wonders, Miracles” is the theme for the annual Southern Regional Conference of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal, which will take place March 29-31 at the Copeland Tower Suites and Conference Center in Metairie.

Well-known speakers and authors include: Dr. Mary Healy, Father Mathias Thelen and Barbara Heil. Also featured will be Father Deogratias Ekisa, Casey Sprehe, Deacon Larry and Andi Oney. The program will include a greeting FEBRUARY 7–27, 2019

by Archbishop Gregory Aymond of New Orleans, dynamic

SAVE OVER

preaching, prayer for healing, eucharistic celebrations, late night worship, eucharistic adoration, inspiring music, charismatic ministry and prayer for a new outpouring of the Holy Spirit.

Pope Francis has called upon the Charismatic Renewal to “share the grace of the baptism in the spirit with the whole church.” That is the aim of this conference. Pre-register at www.ccrno.org. Register for single sessions at the door. For more information on schedule and hotel accommodations, visit www.ccrno.org or call CCRNO at (504)828-1368. BC

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Announcement

Diocesan director appointed to NPM Council

Father Glenn LeCompte

Father Glenn LeCompte, diocesan director of the Office of Worship, was recently appointed chair of the Clergy Interest Section for the National Association of Pastoral Musicians (NPM) Council.

The NPM is an organization for anyone who recognizes and supports the value of musical liturgy.

It is made up of choir directors, organists, guitarists, pianists, instrumentalists of all kinds, priests, cantors and pastoral liturgists. The Council, which is the largest body of leadership at NPM, includes national committee chairpersons, interest section chairpersons and at-large representatives. These leaders manage initiatives that help NPM serve its members and fulfill its mission to serve the Catholic Church in the United States by fostering the art of musical liturgy. Father LeCompte has been a member of the NPM for the past eight years. BC

Office of Human Resources & Employee Benefits 2779 Highway 311 • Post Office Box 505 • Schriever, LA 70395 Phone (985) 850-3115 • Fax (985) 850-3215 The Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux is currently seeking a full-time employee for the ministry of

Chief Financial and Administrative Officer This position serves as financial and administrative officer of the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux to ensure the safe-keeping and proper stewardship of all assets, both financial and non-financial and provides financial and administrative service to the departments, offices, programs, parishes, schools and affiliated entities of the diocese.

This position is eligible for full benefits.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING: (Other duties may be assigned) • Management, budgeting, and financial reporting and recordkeeping for all diocesan offices and programs, affiliated entities and trusts, including but not limited to, the diocesan wide centralized programs of payroll, employee benefits, deposits and loans, liability/property insurance, safety, risk management, building and construction, communications, personnel, catholic charities, cemeteries, computer operations, catholic schools, safe environment, and parish support.

• Administrative, business, and financial advisor to bishop.

• Deliver financial statements, budgets and other information to the diocesan finance council and other affiliated entities/trusts, boards.

• Liaison with attorneys for all diocesan, parish and school legal matters.

• Maintain professional relationships with external business contacts (bankers, auditors, investment managers, actuaries, insurance brokers, consultants, contractors).

• Calculation of Cathedraticum, Christmas and Easter quotas, priest retirement assessment, accumulated priest retirement benefits, property/liability insurance billing.

• Must have ongoing continuing education in areas of administration.

OTHER OR SHARED RESPONSIBILITIES: • Review quarterly consolidated financial report for parishes and schools.

• Administrative, business, and financial advisor to parishes and schools.

THIS POSITION SUPERVISES: • All diocesan staff and oversees operations of approximately 20 ministries Education and Experience Qualifications: • BA/BS degree in accounting, finance, business administration.

• At least 10 years progressive experience in executive level financial management or public accounting.

• Administrative leadership experience, preferably in the Catholic Church or non-profit, including working with consultative bodies, supervision, accounting, investing and borrowing.

• CPA, MBA or DFM preferred • Must be a practicing Catholic in good standing with the church Other Qualifications: • Strong professional and interpersonal skills demonstrating the ability to communicate clearly and effectively with others on all levels both orally and in writing; excellent presentation skills.

• Must be able to multi-task and set priorities.

• Knowledge of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles, finance, recordkeeping, budgeting and cost control principles.

• Must have excellent computer skills and experience in Microsoft Office Software and accounting software packages.

• Experience required in the following areas: property management, investments, employee benefits and insurance.

• Familiarity with the Code of Canon Law related to temporal goods preferred.

• Ability to establish and maintain friendly and cooperative relations with employees, clergy and parishes, schools, and other organizations the diocese supports.

• Flexibility to work occasional evenings and weekends, and travel.

The Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate against applicants or employees by reason of race, color, religion*, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, genetic information of any other basis prohibited by applicable law. *The diocese, in its sole discretion, reserves the right to require “practicing Catholic” to be a qualification for a position.

For consideration please submit a cover letter, resume and three professional references to hr@htdiocese.org.

Applications being accepted until position filled.

February 2019 • Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux • Bayou Catholic • 39

Diocesan Events

www.bayoucatholic.com

February

n Food for the Journey, Tuesday, Feb. 5, Ellendale Country Club Restaurant, 3319 Highway 311, Houma, 10:45 a.m.-12:45 p.m. Speaker, Rob Gorman. n Free income tax preparation and e-filing is available every Tuesday (Feb. 5 – April 9) from 9 a.m.–3 p.m., on the second floor of the Terrebonne Parish Main Library.

March

n Food for the Journey, Tuesday, March 12, Ellendale Country Club Restaurant, 3319 Highway 311, Houma, 10:45 a.m.12:45 p.m. Speaker, Roch Gernon. n Rite of Election, Sunday, March 10, 3 p.m., St. Joseph Co-Cathedral, Thibodaux. n Women’s Giving Circle Kick Off Mass and Brunch, March 16, 9 a.m., St. Thomas Aquinas, Thibodaux.

April

n Food for the Journey, Tuesday, April 2, Ellendale Country Club Restaurant, 3319 Highway 311, Houma, 10:45 a.m.-12:45 p.m. Speaker, TBA. n Chrism Mass, Thursday, April 18, 10:30 a.m., Cathedral of St. Francis de Sales, Houma.

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February 2019 • Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux • Bayou Catholic • 41

Houma Maria Immacolata Catholic School Krewe of MICS, Friday, March 1, 1:45 p.m.

Houma

Bayou Vista Krewe of Dionysus, Saturday, March 2, 2 p.m.

St. Bernadette Catholic School Krewe of Pandas, Friday, March 1, 12:30 p.m.

Chackbay/Choupic Krewe of Choupic, Tuesday, March 5, 1 p.m.

Chauvin Krewe of Bayou Petit Caillou, Saturday, Feb. 23, Noon

Houma St. Francis de Sales Cathedral School Krewe of St. Francis Wednesday, Feb. 27, 9:30 a.m.

Houma St. Gregory Barbarigo Catholic School Krewe of Royals Tuesday, Feb. 19, 9 a.m.

Larose Holy Rosary Catholic School Krewe of Kindergarten Parade Friday, March 1, 2 p.m.

42 • Bayou Catholic • Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux • February 2019

Gheens Krewe of Gheens, Tuesday, March 5, 11 a.m.

Golden Meadow Krewe of Athena, Friday, March 1, 7 p.m.

Krewe of Atlantis, Saturday, March 2, Noon Krewe of Nereids, Sunday, March 3, 6 p.m.

Krewe of Neptune, Tuesday, March 5, Noon Grand Isle Independent Parade, Sunday, March 3, 1 p.m.

Houma Krewe of Hercules, Friday, Feb. 22, 6 p.m.

Krewe of Aquarius, Saturday, Feb. 23, 6:30 p.m.

Krewe of Hyacinthians, Sunday, Feb. 24, Noon Krewe of Titans, follows Hyacinthians Krewe of Aphrodite, Friday, March 1, 6:30 p.m.

Krewe of Mardi Gras, Saturday, March 2, 6:30 p.m.

Krewe of Terreanians, Sunday, March 3, 12:30 p.m.

Krewe of Cleopatra, Monday, March 4, 6:30 p.m.

Krewe of Houmas, Tuesday, March 5, Noon Krewe of Kajuns, follows Houmas

2019 Labadieville Krewe of Xanadu, Monday, March 4, 6 p.m.

Larose Krewe of Des T-Cajuns, Saturday, Feb. 23, Noon Krewe of Versailles, Sunday, Feb. 24, Noon Krewe of Du Bon Temps, Saturday, March 2, 6:30 p.m.

Lockport Krewe of Apollo, Saturday, March 2, Noon Montegut Krewe of Montegut, Sunday, March 3, 2 p.m.

Krewe of Bonne Terre, Tuesday, March 5, 4 p.m.

Morgan City Krewe of Adonis, Friday, March 1, 7 p.m.

Krewe of Galatea, Sunday, March 3, 2 p.m.

Krewe of Hephaestus, Tuesday, March 5, 2 p.m.

Thibodaux Krewe of Shaka, Sunday, Feb. 24, 1:30 p.m.

Krewe of Ambrosia, Sunday, Feb. 24, 2 p.m.

Krewe of Cleophas, Sunday, March 3, 12:30 p.m.

Krewe of Chronos, Sunday, March 3, 1:30 p.m.

Krewe of Ghana, Tuesday, March 5, 1 p.m.

Krewe of Maasai, Tuesday, March 5, 2 p.m.

Lockport Holy Savior Catholic School Krewe of Eagles – A Few of My Favorite Things Friday, March 1, 2 p.m.

Morgan City Central Catholic School Krewe of Spirit, Friday, March 1, 1:30 p.m.

Raceland St. Mary’s Nativity School Krewe of Kiddies Celebrates 50 Years Friday, March 1, Noon

Thibodaux St. Genevieve Catholic School Krewe of Pre-K/YK Friday, March 1, 2:45 p.m.

Thibodaux St. Joseph Catholic Elementary School Krewe of Pre-K Friday, March 1, 1:30 p.m.

February 2019 • Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux • Bayou Catholic • 43

Mardi Gras

Guest Columnist Father Michael Bergeron

This guest column appeared in our first issue of Bayou Catholic magazine which was published February 2012.

There is no celebration in the world which is as much misconstrued as Mardi Gras. Like all of our holidays (Christmas, Easter and Halloween), Mardi Gras is a Christian holiday rooted in ancient festivals. Mardi Gras most likely began with a 3,500-year-old Greek spring fertility celebration. It got into pagan Roman hands, which was eventually transformed into a church celebration. In the past, there has been harsh criticism that the Catholic Church has sinister reasons for eclipsing and absorbing pagan festivals. But that criticism is unjustified. The church had a practical reason for this: to keep from being persecuted by the Romans when they practiced their religion and to also appeal to the pagans to convert to Christianity. Regardless of its past, Mardi Gras is filled with wonderful symbolism and rich with religious parallels.

Although originally a Greek festival of atonement, in the second century the Romans began observing a fast of 40 days, which was preceded by a brief season of feasting, costumes and merrymaking.

The church leaders took the holiday, kept the original Greek motive of atonement and the Roman idea of an acceptable feasting before the Lenten season. The concept spread rapidly throughout Europe. Christianized Roman and Greek leaders had medals struck and dispensed them along the roadside while masked revelers paraded and pelted one another with confetti and candy. By the time of the Middle Ages, Florence and Venice had parades with boats.

One thousand years after the papal change making it a Christian holiday,

carnival arrived in New Orleans through the French. Pierre LeMoyne D’Iberville explored the Gulf Coast and remarked in his 1699 journal, “March 3rd Mardy Gras Day.” D’Iberville, who was exploring the mouth of the Mississippi River, proclaimed a bayou that he discovered on that day as “Point du Mardi Gras.”

On that day, tradition dictates, the explorers opened a bottle of wine and toasted their king, King Louis XIV. By the late 1700s pre-Lenten masked balls and parties flourished in New Orleans and the first “parade” began in 1837.

Most people believe that the celebration spreads over a few days before Ash Wednesday. In reality, carnival is similar to the Fasching of Germany which begins on the twelfth night (Epiphany) and continues until Shrove Tuesday (from “to shrive” or to hear confession and make absolution).

According to a pre-1000 A.D. English Ecclesiastical Institutes: “In the week immediately before Lent everyone shall go to his confessor and confess his deeds and the confessor shall so shrive him as he then may hear by his deeds what he is to do in the way of penance.” Shrove Tuesday became Mardi Gras – French for Fat Tuesday.

According to the Catholic Encyclopedia, the word “Carnival,” is derived from the “taking away of flesh” (camera levare) which marked the beginning of Lent.

In other words, the word came from the idea that meat would be taken away beginning on Ash Wednesday.

The season begins at Epiphany.

“Epiphany” comes from the Greek word epiphaneia, which means “showing forth” or “manifestation.” The feast is about the manifestation of Jesus as Messiah and Savior of the world. In many Catholic countries, Epiphany is called “Little Christmas.” It is on that day children receive their presents and

44 • Bayou Catholic • Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux • February 2019

they do not come from Santa Claus, but from the Three Kings. It marks the day the Magi brought gifts to the Christ Child.

One of the most popular customs was to bake a special cake in honor of the three Kings – “a King Cake.” The cake contains a baby which represents the child Jesus. Tradition evolved through time to obligate the person who receives the baby inside to continue the festivities by hosting another party. It is only a recent phenomenon that Catholics go to communion every Sunday. In the not too distant past, many people rarely went to communion. They did, however, perform their “Easter duties.” So, with the King Cake, week after week, they were nourished on the gift of the Divine Child by the person who found him in their cake.

The colors represent the gifts of the Magi: Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh – Gold, Green and Purple – Power, Faith and Justice, respectively. The Magi represent us on our life journey.

Balthasar carried the gift of gold. He was the young man at the bloom of his youth filled with enthusiasm for life.

The second, Gaspar, the dark man, bears the gift of frankincense. It is us in mid-life who are led to deal with our “accommodated self” – the persona behind which our authentic self has been hiding. It is here we are called to integrate all aspects of ourselves and embrace the presence of God. Then there is Melchoir, the elderly man carrying myrrh, the spice used in burial. He is pictured most closely to the child – often shown on all fours before the infant.

He has doffed his crown, he has cast aside human pride and reputation and has become like a child. He has passed through mid-life and integrated himself.

He speaks wisdom.

There is a sort of “communion” in

a

Mardi Gras

the King Cake which is filled with symbolism. There was also a practical aspect of Fat Tuesday. Remember, there were not always refrigerators and freezers. Lent was coming and there was no way to store meat and butter for six weeks. And wasting it would be unthinkable. Rich foods such as eggs, meat, oils and butter were strictly prohibited during the 40 days of Lent. It thus became customary to eat all that remained of these foods in the house and enjoy one last feast on the day before the 40-day fast. Unlike contemporary interpretations, it was not an excuse for gluttony, it was an opportunity to be good stewards of God’s gifts by not wasting food.

In England, Mardi Gras is known as Pancake Day when people covered their pancakes with butter. In Germany and France people ate doughnuts fried in deep fat. In Mardi Gras parades there are the gaily dressed butchers on a float with a huge ox. Tuesday became the day to use up all the fat (butter and meat) before the rigid abstinence of Ash Wednesday. Thus, Fat Tuesday.

Let’s face it, people love celebrations. Even Jesus loved a good meal with friends or the fun of a wedding. In ancient Israel, a wedding ceremony began when the bride and groom arrived, the doors were shut and the party lasted until the wine ran out. Jesus found himself at one in which the wine ran out early. So he changed water into wine – thus, extending the life of the party.

Scripture encourages us to set aside special times for celebration, although not in the excess we sometimes find in Mardi Gras.

On Ash Wednesday morning, the debris of Mardi Gras in the streets lie in sharp contrast to the people walking around with a smear of ashes on their foreheads. But Mardi Gras has provided a lesson to everyone. When you go to those parades and catch a trinket, you are delighted to have

a

How do you know which Tuesday it will be?

Ash Wednesday is always 46 days before Easter, and Fat Tuesday is always the day before Ash Wednesday. Easter can fall on any Sunday from March 23 to April 25, with the exact date to coincide with the first Sunday after the full moon following a spring equinox. There you have it. Viola! If you’re still confused, get out a calendar that has the holidays printed on it. Fat Tuesday is always the day before Ash Wednesday!

2019

MAR

5

2028

FEB

29

2037

FEB

17

2020

FEB

25

2029

FEB

13

2038

MAR

9

2021

FEB

16

2030

MAR

5

2039

FEB

22

2022

MAR

1

2031

FEB

25

2040

FEB

14

2023

FEB

21

2032

FEB

10

2041

MAR

5

2024

FEB

13

2033

MAR

1

2042

FEB

18

2025

MAR

4

2034

FEB

21

2043

FEB

10

2026

FEB

17

2035

FEB

6

2044

MAR

1

2027

FEB

9

2036

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26

2045

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21

February 2019 • Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux • Bayou Catholic • 45

Mardi Gras

caught something. Then you want one of those longer necklaces or a pearl one. Then you want the stuffed animal, the coconut or some other coveted item. And frantically, people scramble for the “treasures” flying from the float.

They seem so important at the moment. And people walk away so satisfied.

But the next morning, we look at that junk and realize it is just junk. It’s not important and we don’t even know what to do with it. We throw it in a closet and head to church for our ashes. The city seems so silent.

On our walk to church, if we are even slightly astute, we will realize that only two things in life are important. Those two things are our relationship with God and our relationship with each other. And we realize that even though it was a great game of “let’s pretend” at the parades, all that stuff doesn’t matter. When we get to church, we are reminded that we are dust and unto dust we shall return. We realize that money, power, position, possessions all dim in comparison to our relationship with God and with other people.

We realize that LOVE is the only thing that matters. Love, God and people are the only things that are eternal. We forget the junk, and remember the fun we had with our loved ones – with families and friends. We forget the junk and concentrate on Lent and our relationship with God and his Son who loved us to his death. What a marvelous lesson Carnival and Mardi Gras teaches us. It teaches us what truly matters in life – God and other people.

Everything else, including all the trinkets of life, are not important. There is a lot to be learned about faith and about life by looking at Mardi Gras. BC

e f a s a e v a H y p p a h d n a ! s a r G i d r Ma Bayou 46 • Bayou Catholic • Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux • February 2019

Catholic

LAWRENCE CHATAGNIER/BAYOU CATHOLIC

February 2019 • Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux • Bayou Catholic • 47

Special

PHOTOS BY DEACON JAMES BRUNET

Deacons of Houma-Thibodaux along with Bishop Shelton J. Fabre gathered recently for their Annual St. Stephen’s Mass at St. Bridget Church in Schriever. St. Stephen is the patron saint of deacons and was the first martyr for the faith. Every year the deacons gather to be inspired by his selfless service to Jesus Christ. They also gather with the bishop to allow him to continue to guide them in their role of the diaconate.

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www.Gulfcoastorthopedics.com • www.GCOphysicaltherapy.com 48 • Bayou Catholic • Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux • February 2019

Announcement

Abbey Youth Fest returns March 23 Registration is now open for Abbey Youth Festival (AYF), the largest youth event within the Archdiocese of New Orleans. AYF takes place Saturday, March 23 on the grounds of Saint Joseph Abbey and Seminary College, located at 75376 River Road in Covington. AYF is open to high school students ages 13 or older. Visit www.abbeyyouthfest.com for more information, including sponsorship availability.

College students and young adults are welcome to apply to serve as volunteers.

AYF, which draws thousands from throughout the Southern U.S., provides young people with an opportunity to experience a day of prayer and faith formation with an exposure to the Benedictine tradition. Its focus is evangelization and vocational discernment by means of liturgy, prayer, worship, music and education.

Speakers this year include: n Father Sidney Speaks, parochial vicar for St. Matthew the Apostle Catholic Church in River Ridge n Danielle Nicole, inspirational Catholic presenter and advocate for abuse and trafficking victims n Dallas Ft. Worth native Sister Josephine Garrett, CSFN, who serves in vocations ministry, and also as a speaker for youth and young adult retreats and conferences throughout the country n Musician, author, and Catholic speaker Dom Quaglia’s funny approach to life coupled with a strong faith make him a great role model for young men seeking to live out their call to holiness.

Returning to Abbey Youth Fest this year is the Sarah Kroger Band, who continue to lead worship and share their music at a range of national and international events. Their two albums include Your Time and Hallelujah Is Our Song.

They are currently working on their third highly anticipated studio album. Emceeing Abbey Youth Fest this year are

Sarah Denny from Christ the King Catholic Student Center at LSU and Saint Joseph Seminary College alumnus Deacon Andrew Gutierrez ’15.

Online, pre-event registration is now open. Registration for youth and adult laity is $40 per person. Priests, deacons and seminarians are invited to AYF free of charge. On-site check-in and registration begins at 8 a.m. on March 23 at a cost of $50. The AYF field will be open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Information and online registration can be found at www.abbeyyouthfest.com. BC

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February 2019 • Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux • Bayou Catholic • 49

Sports

Overtime Ed Daniels

Long offseason ahead for Saints fans You thought last January’s Minnesota Miracle was bad?

Turns out it is not nearly as difficult to digest as the infamous no pass interference call against the Rams, one that will linger (and linger), as the Saints head into a long offseason.

So, should the NFL extend its already significant instant replay reach into pass interference calls?

No. The NFL has the replay system to a point where it is more than manageable. Coaches have a pocket full of challenges, and now, every turnover is reviewed.

Officiating is not perfect and never will be.

Hours after the Saints lost in overtime to the Rams, the replay booth overturned a key call in the Patriots/Chiefs AFC championship game.

The Chiefs thought they had recovered a muffed punt by New England’s Julian Edelman.

The call on the field was Kansas City ball. But, without what appeared to be conclusive evidence to overturn, the Patriots got the football back. The replay booth ruled there was evidence that Edelman did not touch a bouncing football.

So, are officials deliberately cheating?

Of course not. Sorry, I know it is not what you want to hear, but of course not.

Did the NFL want the Rams in the Super Bowl because they are in the nation’s second biggest media market?

Sorry, can’t buy that one, either.

Did Roger Goodell want the Rams, not the Saints in the Super Bowl?

Well ... Goodell can’t stand Sean Payton, and vice versa, but the answer is no.

And, now for some perspective.

The week before the NFC championship, Rams fans were clamoring for a change in referees.

After all, with Bill Vinovich as the referee, the Rams were 0-2 this season, and 0-8 since 2012.

Surely, that was a bonafide conspiracy before the game even began.

The bottom line on the final game of the Saints season is this.

The Saints kicked two field goals in the first quarter against the Rams, instead of scoring two touchdowns.

If it is 14-0 after two possessions, the Rams are just about cooked.

50 • Bayou Catholic • Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux • February 2019

6-0? Los Angeles was still in the game.

The Saints had a 10 point lead in the third quarter, and still couldn’t finish the Rams.

The Saints had 290 yards of offense against the Rams. Not good enough.

The Saints also missed their injured starters.

Maybe Ben Watson catches the touchdown pass that tight end Dan Arnold didn’t in the first quarter.

Maybe defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins provides something the Saints lacked, interior pass rush.

Maybe an offensive line that was playing hurt (Terron Armstead, Andrus Peat), plays much better when healthy.

But, here is a certainty.

Unlike Harry Connick Jr., I will be watching the Super Bowl.

It is what America does on the first Sunday in February.

And, the NFL, that vast, and sometimes arrogant empire, is already winning this officiating controversy.

The entire offseason, fans will bemoan what they see as broken officiating.

Whether they are correct or incorrect doesn’t matter.

They’ll be talking football.

I know you don’t want to hear this, but … Roger Goodell wins again.

Sorry.

Happy Mardi Gras. BC

2019 Current and New Student Registration Dates Holy Rosary Catholic School P.O. Box 40 Larose, LA 70373 Grades PK-8 Cathy Long, Principal Lauren Moore, Secretary 693-3342 • Fax 693-3348 holyroselm@htdiocese.org www.holyrosary.org Current Students: February 4-15 New Students: February 18-22 St. Gregory Barbarigo Catholic School 441 Sixth St. Houma, LA 70364 Grades PS-7 Dr. Cindy Martin NBCT, Principal Ashley Landry, Admin. Asst.

876-2038 • Fax 879-2789 stgregelm@htdiocese.org www.stgregoryschool.org Current Students: February 4-15 New Students: Begins February 18 Maria Immacolata Catholic School 324 Estate Dr. Houma, LA 70364 Grades PK-7 Prissy Davis, Principal Darla Bergeron, Secretary 876-1631 • Fax 876-1608 www.micsbluejays.org Current Students: February 4-11 New Students: Begins February 18 St. Bernadette Catholic School 309 Funderburk Ave. Houma, LA 70364 Grades PK-7 Lydia Landry, Principal Susan Chauvin, Secretary 872-3854 • Fax 872-5780 stbernelm@htdiocese.org www.saintbernadettepandas.com Current Students: February 4-11 New Students: February 18-22 St. Francis de Sales Cathedral School 300 Verret St. Houma, LA 70360 Grades PS-7 Kelli Cazayoux, Principal Kim Landry, Secretary 868-6646 • Fax 851-5896 stfranciselm@htdiocese.org www.stfrancishouma.org Current Students: February 4-15 New Students: February 18 - 9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.

(St. Francis Parishioners only)

St. Genevieve Catholic School 807 Barbier Ave. Thibodaux, LA 70301 Grades PK-7 Chris Knobloch, Principal Stacie Trosclair, Secretary 447-9291 • Fax 447-9883 stgenelm@htdiocese.org www.stgenevieveschool.us Current Students: February 4-8 New Students: February 18-22 Holy Savior Catholic School 201 Church St. Lockport, LA 70374 Grades PK-8 Tricia Thibodaux, Principal Marcia Hebert, Secretary 532-2536 • Fax 532-2269 holysavelm@htdiocese.org www.holysaviorschool.org Current Students: February 4-8 New Students: February 18-22 St. Joseph Catholic Elementary School 501 Cardinal Dr. Thibodaux, LA 70301 Grades PK-7 Gerard Rodrigue Jr., Principal Rita Carrier, Secretary 446-1346 • Fax 449-0760 stjoeelm@htdiocese.org www.stjosephcesthibodaux.org Current Students: February 4-8 New Students: February 18-22 St. Mary’s Nativity School 3492 Nies Street Raceland, LA 70394 Grades PK-8 Marissa Bagala, Principal Judy Watts, Secretary 537-7544 • Fax 537-4020 stmarelm@htdiocese.org https:www.plusportals.com/ StMarysNativity Current Students: February 4-8 New Students: February 18-22

Central Catholic School Junior High/High School 2100 Cedar St. Morgan City, LA 70380 Grades 6-12 Vic Bonnaffee, Principal Sandy Daigle, Secretary 385-5372 • Fax 385-3444 centcathi@htdiocese.org www.cchseagles.com Current Students: February 4-February 15 New Students: February 18-March 1 Elementary School 2100 Cedar St. Morgan City, LA 70380 Grades PK-5 Amanda Talbot, Principal Phyllis Jensen, Secretary 384-1933 • Fax 384-3270 holycrosselm@htdiocese.org www.holycrosselementary.org Current Students: Begins January 9 New Students: Begins January 17 E.D. White Catholic High School 555 Cardinal Dr. Thibodaux, LA 70301 Grades 8-12 Michelle Chiasson, Principal Cathy Hebert, Secretary Tim Robichaux, President 446-8486 • Fax 448-1275 edwhitehi@htdiocese.org www.edwhite.org Current and New Students: February 25-March 15 Catholic Schools Office Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux Suzanne Troxclair Superintendent of Schools stroxclair@htdiocese.org Lisa Davies Administrative Assistant 850-3114 • Fax 850-3214

Vandebilt Catholic High School 209 S. Hollywood Rd. Houma, LA 70360 Grades 8-12 Jeremy Gueldner, Principal Shirley Cunningham, Secretary David Boudreaux, President 876-2551 • Fax 868-9774 vandebilthi@htdiocese.org www.vandebiltcatholic.org Current and New Students: February 1-22

February 19 - 9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.

(Other Catholic Parishes) February 20 - 9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.

(Non-Catholic families) Our Catholic schools do not discriminate on the basis of race, sex or national origin.